Mobile chipmakers’ licensing deal will need U.S. regulatory approval
Huawei first paid to license Qualcomm patents in 2001. A new cross-licensing deal, if approved, will make Qualcomm the net payer for the first time. (Source photos by Reuters)
CHENG TING-FANG and LAULY LI
October 5, 2026 15:00 JST
Updated on October 5, 2026 17:58 JST
TAIPEI — Huawei announced Monday that rival mobile chipmaker Qualcomm would pay to use its patents for the first time, in a cross-licensing agreement covering 5G and AI technologies. The deal marks a breakthrough for the Chinese company’s intellectual property portfolio but will trigger a regulatory review in the U.S.