The number of declared 5G patents has exploded, rising from ~19,000 active, granted families in 2020 to over 53,000 today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s face it: declarations are easy. What\u2019s hard is figuring out which ones are genuinely essential and who owns how many of these gems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s precisely what our new 2025 5G SEP Essentiality Study does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how we tackled it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We mapped the whole universe of 53,493 declared 5G patent families as of December 31, 2024 (based on ETSI\u2019s latest release).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, we pulled a meaningful stratified sample of patent families, representing every major contributor. While analyzing a sample has its limits, it still offers valuable insights into the broader patent landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each patent in the sample was reviewed claim-by-claim to determine true essentiality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results? A clear, statistical X-ray of 5G licensing power:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only ~41% of the sample were core-essential SEPs.
The leaders holding the maximum core SEPs have changed positions.
That ratio gives us the clearest view yet of how much (or how little) declared SEPs matter – and who holds real leverage going into 2025\u20132026 licensing talks.
Sir\/Mam, next time you\u2019re at a licensing negotiation table for your 5G tech; no matter which side you\u2019re dealing from – licensee or licensor – you can hold a stronger hand with this data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n