A forum that speaks volumes
On November 11, 2025, Huawei hosted its 6th Innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) Forum in Beijing, bringing together global IP experts, academics, and international organizations. Beneath the surface of collaboration and innovation, a deeper strategic message emerged: Huawei is leveraging intellectual property to build long-term global influence in digital infrastructure.
At a time when Huawei remains restricted in several Western markets due to geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity concerns, the company is presenting itself as an advocate for transparency, open innovation, and respect for international IP frameworks. The forum was not just about celebrating its “Top Ten Inventions”, it was a clear signal to the industry: Huawei is mastering the global patent system and using it strategically.
The numbers behind a strategic machine
Let’s take a look at Huawei’s 2024 IP metrics:
- 37,000 patents filed, a record for the company
- 6,600 international PCT applications, making Huawei the top filer globally (as it has been since 2014)
- $630 million in patent licensing revenue
- Three times more royalties paid than received, indicating heavy investment in collaboration and licensing
Real-world impact:
- 2.7 billion 5G devices, 1.2 billion Wi-Fi devices, and 3.2 billion multimedia products licensed under Huawei patents
- 48 Fortune Global 500 companies are directly or indirectly using Huawei’s IP
In short, Huawei isn’t just selling hardware, it’s embedding its technology into the very DNA of global networks.
Open Source + Patents: a hybrid strategy
Huawei doesn’t lock everything behind proprietary walls. Quite the opposite: it’s simultaneously a major contributor to open source and shaper of global standards.
- Its OpenHarmony codebase expanded by 10 million lines in 2024, with 8,100+ active contributors
- openEuler, its open source OS, surpassed 10 million installations
- Huawei contributed 10,000 technical submissions to standards bodies and published over 1,000 scientific papers
It also launched Chaspark Patent, a free patent search platform enhanced with AI-powered semantic search and summarization, aimed at democratizing innovation, especially for independent researchers and startups in developing countries. This hybrid approach open source plus patents is a long game: Huawei builds ecosystems where it remains central, all while promoting an image of openness and inclusion.
Why Telecom operators should care
As telecom networks become more complex and globally interdependent, IP is no longer a niche legal issue. It’s a core strategic matter — for CTOs, CISOs, and even CEOs.
Here are three reasons why telcos should pay attention:
- Technology dependency: Even if an operator doesn’t buy Huawei hardware, its services likely depend on technologies under Huawei’s licenses — often without full visibility.
- Digital sovereignty: How can operators ensure autonomy when key protocols and standards are influenced by actors outside their jurisdiction?
- Collaboration vs. control: Should telcos partner with Huawei under transparent, well-negotiated terms — or invest in more sovereign, local alternatives (at higher cost)?
The rise of a global industrial strategy
Huawei’s approach sends a clear message: IP is no longer just about protection, it’s about power, negotiation, and ecosystem control. The company is transforming patents from static legal tools into dynamic assets that shape global tech architectures.
That’s both inspiring and unsettling. Inspiring, because it shows how IP can fuel shared innovation. Unsettling, because it reveals the silent reach of a player that many governments are trying with limited success to keep at bay.
Conclusion: smart collaboration, not blind Trust
Intellectual property is now a board-level concern. For telecom operators, partnerships with firms like Huawei must be grounded in due diligence, contractual clarity, and a clear understanding of long-term risks and dependencies. This is not a call to isolate or vilify Huawei. It’s a call to approach collaboration with intelligence, vigilance, and strategic intent. Working with Chinese tech firms is not a simple yes or no, it’s a question of how, under what terms, and with what safeguards.
👉 This article is a preview of my strategic watch report for MWC. To receive the full version with telecom-focused insights on IP, open source, and global tech influence, you can pre-register now.