Irene Chen, Taipei; Adam Hwang

 

While there are LTE-enabled terminal devices available for sale, integrated licensing of LTE patents will not be available at least until the end of 2012, according to Taiwan-based makers of networking/communication devices.

Owners of LTE patents, such as Qualcomm and ST-Ericsson, have not yet established a scheme to integrate the licensing of their patents, the sources said. As patent owners have not set licensing rates, no Taiwan-based makers have signed licenses, the sources indicated.

Taiwan-based makers are poised to face licensing charges, but worry about the heavy financial burden if individual owners separately charge for their proprietary patents, the sources said.