5G Network Energy Efficiency Patent Landscape 2026
The 5G network energy efficiency space is in a Growth stage with filing volume rising sharply on a multi-year basis, led overwhelmingly by Samsung Electronics. The field is highly concentrated, with wireless communication network protocols dominating the technology mix and the United States serving as the primary filing jurisdiction.
Samsung commands the field; the remaining top filers are a distant second tier
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd leads the 5G network energy efficiency landscape by a commanding margin, holding 441 patent families — more than thirteen times the count of the second-ranked filer, NVIDIA Corp at 33 patent families.
The top five filers — Samsung Electronics, NVIDIA, The Massengill Family Trust, Apple, and Newman David E — together account for 72% of the combined total of the hundred largest filers, indicating extreme concentration at the top. The gap between Samsung and all other applicants is structurally dominant rather than incrementally so.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 441 | |
| 2 | NVIDIA Corporation | 33 | |
| 3 | The Massengill Family Trust | 30 | |
| 4 | Apple Inc | 26 | |
| 5 | Newman David E | 19 | |
| 6 | Qualcomm Inc | 18 | |
| 7 | AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P | 12 | |
| 8 | Lovely Professional University | 6 | |
| 9 | Pivotal Commware Inc | 6 | |
| 10 | Orange SA | 6 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | DISH Wireless LLC | 5 | |
| 12 | Tianjin University | 5 | |
| 13 | Tejas Networks Ltd | 5 | |
| 14 | Boost SubscriberCo LLC | 4 | |
| 15 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | 4 | |
| 16 | China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd | 4 | |
| 17 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung | 4 | |
| 18 | Jio Platforms Ltd | 4 | |
| 19 | UNIV OF ELECTRONICS SCI & TECH OF CHINA | 4 | |
| 20 | CHINA INFOMRAITON CONSULTING & DESIGNING INST CO LTD | 4 |
Samsung’s position implies that any entrant or challenger seeking to contest core wireless power-saving protocols will face a deeply entrenched incumbent with patent coverage across H04W52, H04W72, and H04W24. Challengers are currently differentiating by focusing on AI-model integration (NVIDIA), uplink management (Qualcomm), or network operations (AT&T), rather than competing directly on the same sub-classes.
Filing counts for 2025 and 2026 are understated due to standard patent publication lag of 18–24 months; the apparent plateau in the most recent period should not be read as a slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing volume has accelerated sharply since 2021; wireless protocols dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend reveals a multi-year growth trajectory with recent-window growth of 331%, while the technology composition chart shows that H04W (Wireless communication networks) is overwhelmingly dominant. Together these charts identify where activity is surging and which adjacent branches remain comparatively sparse.
Annual filing trend
Filings were modest from 2017 to 2020, then accelerated sharply from 2021 onward, reaching a recorded peak in 2024. The 2025 and 2026 bars are materially understated by publication lag and should not be interpreted as a deceleration.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H04W (Wireless communication networks) is the dominant branch, followed by H04L (Digital information transmission) and H04B (Transmission general). AI-model computing (G06N), electric digital data processing (G06F), and multiplex communication (H04J) each represent a small single-digit share, signalling meaningful white space adjacent to the core wireless protocols.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
On-demand system information block 1 (SIB1) transm…
A user equipment (UE) configured for operation in a fifth-generation new radio (5G NR) network may be configured for an on-demand system information block 1 (OD-SIB1) transmission. The UE may decode signaling from a first cell indicating a physical cell identify of a Network Energy Saving Cell (NES_Cell) and an indication for receptions of synchronization… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low power RRC operating method and device | 107 |
| 2 | Method and device for uplink power control | 106 |
| 3 | Method and apparatus for transmitting and receivin… | 91 |
| 4 | Apparatus and method for differential beamforming … | 89 |
| 5 | Method, base station apparatus and user equipment … | 80 |
| 6 | Accelerated fifth generation (5G) new radio operat… | 75 |
| 7 | Method and device for saving power for terminal | 73 |
| 8 | Devices and methods for providing 5g uplink request | 57 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for 5G energy efficiency R&D investment
The combination of a Growth-stage field, extreme top-line concentration, and sparse adjacent branches creates distinct entry and differentiation paths. The four cards below translate the evidence into R&D implications.
Growth stage with accelerating annual volume
The lifecycle evidence classifies this field as Growth, with annual filings still rising and the multi-year window showing 331% growth. Core wireless power-saving protocols (H04W52, H04W72) are becoming increasingly crowded, making differentiation in adjacent sub-fields more attractive. Teams entering now face an active but not yet consolidated standards landscape.
Lifecycle: GrowthSingle-player dominance; challenger tier is fragmented
Samsung Electronics holds 441 patent families, dwarfing every other filer. The next four — NVIDIA (33), The Massengill Family Trust (30), Apple (26), and Newman David E (19) — form a dispersed second tier with no single challenger close to posing a structural threat. For R&D planners, building around or licensing Samsung’s H04W52 and H04W72 portfolio is a near-inescapable consideration.
High concentrationCo-filing activity is minimal and largely intra-Samsung
The most active co-filing pairs are Samsung Electronics with Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center (2 joint filings) and Samsung Electronics with SNU R&D Business Foundation (2 joint filings). AT&T Intellectual Property and AT&T Technical Services Co. share one joint filing. The near-absence of cross-company collaboration outside Samsung’s own entities suggests the ecosystem has not yet entered a standards-pooling or consortium phase.
Minimal cross-org collaborationUS and PCT lead; India is a notable emerging jurisdiction
The United States is the primary filing jurisdiction, followed by WIPO PCT and Europe (EPO), then China and India. India’s filing volume is notable given the presence of academic filers such as Lovely Professional University and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. South Korea ranks sixth, reflecting Samsung’s home-market filing strategy.
US-centric with India risingGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center | 2 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Seoul National University R&DB Foundation | 2 |
| AT&T知识产权一部有限合伙公司 | AT&T TECHNICAL SERVICES CO INC | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Samsung Electronics anchors the field; NVIDIA is the highest-momentum new entrant
The leader and challenger cards below are drawn from applicant ranking, recent momentum, and technology focus data. Samsung’s trajectory reflects organic acceleration; NVIDIA’s entry signals AI-layer convergence with 5G energy management.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Samsung holds 441 patent families, concentrated in H04W52 (wireless power saving, 326 records), H04W72 (resource management, 192 records), and H04W24 (quality of service, 170 records). Its recent-period momentum is 9.2× its prior three-year filing rate, confirming that the position is not legacy but actively expanding. Any freedom-to-operate analysis in core 5G energy protocols must begin with Samsung’s portfolio.
Patent families: 441NVIDIA Corp
NVIDIA holds 33 patent families and entered this space as a new entrant, with 30 of those families filed in the recent period. Its technology emphasis spans H04W24 (network monitoring, 28 records), H04L41 (network management, 13 records), and G06F9 (data processing, 12 records) — a profile that reflects AI-model and software-layer approaches to 5G energy efficiency rather than radio-protocol competition. This positions NVIDIA as the leading AI-convergence player in the adjacent G06N and G06F branches.
Patent families: 33| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 302 | ▲ 9.2× vs prior 3-yr |
| NVIDIA Corporation | 30 | ▲ new entrant |
| Newman David E | 27 | ▲ new entrant |
| MASSENGILL R KEMP | 27 | ▲ new entrant |
| Apple Inc | 13 | ▲ +18% |
| AT&T知识产权一部有限合伙公司 | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| DISH Wireless LLC | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| Lovely Professional University | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
AI-model integration and power-grid systems are under-served adjacent branches
The branches below have low absolute patent counts relative to the dominant H04W class, yet carry plausible technical relevance to 5G energy efficiency. They represent observations of relative sparsity; entry feasibility depends on organizational capability and competitive positioning.
G06N · AI models for 5G energy optimization
G06N (Computing based on AI models) shows only 40 patent records — roughly 3% of the technology composition — despite broad industry interest in machine-learning-driven scheduling and sleep-mode prediction for 5G base stations. NVIDIA’s recent entry via G06F9 suggests AI-layer approaches are beginning to attract serious filers. Teams with AI/ML expertise could find room to differentiate in learned power-state management and inference-at-edge architectures before this branch becomes crowded.
Search this in Eureka →H02J · Power supply and grid integration for 5G infrastructure
H02J (Power supply and grid systems) carries only 7 patent records, representing approximately 1% of the technology composition. As 5G small-cell deployments increasingly interact with smart-grid infrastructure and renewable energy sources, power-flow management and DC microgrid integration become technically relevant. The sparsity here may reflect an early-stage opportunity for filers with both telecom and power-electronics competencies, though commercial viability depends on operator infrastructure investment timelines.
Search this in Eureka →How leading filers differ by technology sub-class emphasis
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H04W 52 · Wireless communication networks | H04W 24 · Wireless communication networks | H04W 72 · Wireless communication networks | H04W 76 · Wireless communication networks | H04B 7 · Transmission (general) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Strong · 326 | Strong · 170 | Strong · 192 | Moderate · 121 | Moderate · 79 |
| Massengill R Kemp | Strong · 18 | Strong · 24 | Strong · 17 | Absent | Strong · 16 |
| Newman David E | Strong · 18 | Strong · 24 | Strong · 17 | Absent | Strong · 16 |
| NVIDIA Corporation | Emerging · 5 | Strong · 28 | Emerging · 4 | Absent | Absent |
| Qualcomm Inc | Strong · 18 | Absent | Moderate · 6 | Moderate · 4 | Moderate · 4 |
| Apple Inc | Strong · 25 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 5 | Absent |
| AT&T Intellectual Property I L P | Strong · 5 | Strong · 8 | Moderate · 4 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 748 patent families in scope. The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by WIPO PCT and Europe (EPO).
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is the dominant holder with 441 patent families, more than thirteen times the count of the second-ranked filer, NVIDIA Corp at 33 patent families.
The field is classified as Growth. Annual filing volume has risen sharply on a multi-year basis, with 331% growth in the recent window. The 2025 and 2026 counts are understated by publication lag and do not signal a slowdown.
H04W (Wireless communication networks) is dominant, followed by H04L (Digital information transmission) and H04B (Transmission general). AI-model computing (G06N) and power supply systems (H02J) are present but comparatively sparse.
Co-filing activity is limited. The most active pairs are Samsung Electronics with Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center (2 joint filings) and Samsung Electronics with SNU R&D Business Foundation (2 joint filings). Cross-company collaboration outside Samsung’s own entities is minimal.
The United States leads in filing volume, followed by WIPO PCT, Europe (EPO), China, and India. India is noteworthy as a growing jurisdiction with active academic filers. A PCT filing strategy covering the US, EPO, and India would reach the highest-activity markets.
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Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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