Open RAN Patent Landscape 2026
Open RAN Patent Landscape in 2026
Open RAN is a heavily concentrated field where Qualcomm and Huawei together command an outsized share of the top-100 filers’ combined output, with the United States as the dominant filing office. The field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak and the most recent years remain understated by publication lag.
Qualcomm leads a steeply tiered Open RAN field
Qualcomm heads the
The top five filers account for 80% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, signalling extreme concentration. Samsung Electronics (1,177), Jio Platforms (878), and Lenovo Beijing (812) form a distant second tier, with remaining applicants clustered well below 800 patent records each.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qualcomm Incorporated | 20,865 | |
| 2 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 10,456 | |
| 3 | Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. | 5,230 | |
| 4 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 1,177 | |
| 5 | Jio Platforms Ltd. | 878 | |
| 6 | Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd. | 812 | |
| 7 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) | 794 | |
| 8 | Honor Device Co., Ltd. | 578 | |
| 9 | Rakuten Symphony, Inc. | 531 | |
| 10 | Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | 516 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | 464 | |
| 12 | VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC | 391 | |
| 13 | NEC Corporation | 390 | |
| 14 | Boost SubscriberCo LLC | 358 | |
| 15 | Intel Corporation | 355 | |
| 16 | Nokia Technologies Oy | 310 | |
| 17 | NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY | 296 | |
| 18 | DISH Wireless LLC | 291 | |
| 19 | Taherzadeh Boroujeni Mahmoud | 285 | |
| 20 | NTT DOCOMO, Inc. | 281 |
The scale of the Qualcomm and Huawei positions means that new entrants face a dense prior-art environment in core wireless-network and digital-transmission subclasses; differentiation through adjacent technology routes — AI inference, positioning, and data-processing — is one viable strategy.
Filing counts for 2024 and 2025 are understated due to standard 18-month publication lag; apparent softening in those years should not be read as a real decline in inventive activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Rapid multi-year growth anchored in wireless-network subclasses
Annual filing data reveals a field that expanded sharply from 2020 onward and reached its reported peak in 2023, while the technology composition shows dominant coverage in wireless and digital-transmission classes with thin but growing coverage in AI and positioning.
Annual filing trend
Filings rose from near zero in 2017 to a reported peak of 6,151 patent records in 2023, then show 4,864 in 2024 and 2,052 in 2025 — figures that are further reduced by publication lag and should not be interpreted as a true decline. The three-year recent window remains well above the prior three-year window, confirming net growth of 1,249% on a multi-year basis.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H04W (Wireless communication networks) dominates with 16,135 patent records, followed by H04L (Digital information transmission) at 9,800 and H04B (Transmission, general) at 4,285. AI-model computing (G06N, 607 records), radar/positioning (G01S, 585 records), and digital data processing (G06F, 526 records) are materially present but each account for only about 2% of the corpus, signalling relative sparsity in those branches.
↗ 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.
Open RAN adapter for use of open RAN technologies …
Provided herein are open radio access network (Open RAN) adapters for using non-open RAN nodes in a wireless network having Open RAN infrastructure, the Open RAN adapters including one or more control application programming interfaces (Control APIs) for controlling the non-open RAN nodes, one or more Data Capture APIs for capturing operational data from… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinforcement learning for multi-access traffic ma… | 324 |
| 2 | Radio access network intelligent application manager | 232 |
| 3 | Active assurance for virtualized services | 212 |
| 4 | Graph neural network and reinforcement learning te… | 190 |
| 5 | Method and system for SLA-based network slice cont… | 171 |
| 6 | Resource allocation and activation/deactivation co… | 158 |
| 7 | Methods, systems, kits and apparatuses for providi… | 153 |
| 8 | System, Device, and Method of Detecting, Mitigatin… | 149 |
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 Open RAN patent structure means for R&D strategy
The combination of steep applicant concentration, multi-year growth, and thin coverage in adjacent AI and positioning branches shapes a clear set of strategic considerations for teams allocating R&D resources.
Growth stage — expanding but past its 2023 annual peak
The lifecycle evidence classifies Open RAN as a Growth-stage field: the recent three-year filing window sits well above the prior three-year window, confirming continued expansion on a multi-year basis. Annual volume nonetheless eased from its 2023 reported peak, and publication lag further suppresses 2024–2025 counts, so the field should not be read as declining. Teams entering now face a maturing core but an early-stage adjacent landscape.
Growth stageTop-two filers hold an outsized share; second tier is fragmented
The top five filers hold 80% of the hundred largest filers’ combined patent records. Qualcomm’s 20,865 and Huawei’s 10,456 patent records create a structural moat in core H04W and H04L subclasses. The second tier — Samsung, Jio, Lenovo, Ericsson — each holds fewer than 1,200 patent records, indicating that a focused portfolio in a niche subclass could still establish credible differentiation against tier-two players.
High concentrationRakuten ecosystem dominates co-filing activity
The most active co-filing relationships are all within the Rakuten group: Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Mobile USA filed 60 jointly, Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony filed 47 jointly, and Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony USA filed 34 jointly. Samsung Electronics and Beijing Samsung Communications Technology Research also co-filed on 11 patents. DISH Wireless and DISH Network Technologies India filed 8 jointly. The pattern suggests that vertically integrated or consortium-structured operators generate the densest collaborative IP activity.
Ecosystem co-filingUS-centric filing with strong PCT and EPO coverage
The United States leads with 9,585 patent records, followed by WIPO PCT filings at 5,726 and the European Patent Office at 4,285. Secondary markets — Philippines, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia — each hold fewer than 110 patent records. China’s direct filings stand at only 21 patent records despite Chinese entities being major applicants, suggesting that key players may rely on US and PCT routes for primary protection rather than Chinese national filings in this corpus.
US-led, PCT-extendedGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | Rakuten Mobile USA LLC | 60 |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | Rakuten Symphony, Inc. | 47 |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | Rakuten Symphony USA LLC | 34 |
| Rakuten Symphony, Inc. | Rakuten Symphony USA LLC | 33 |
| Rakuten Symphony, Inc. | Rakuten Mobile USA LLC | 25 |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | Rakuten Symphony Singapore Pte. Ltd. | 17 |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Samsung Research China — Beijing (SRCB) | 11 |
| DISH Wireless LLC | DISH NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PTE LTD | 8 |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | RAKUTEN SYMPHONY INDIA PTE LTD | 5 |
| Rakuten Symphony, Inc. | RAKUTEN SYMPHONY INDIA PTE LTD | 5 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Qualcomm and Huawei lead on volume; Ericsson and Jio show strong momentum
The top two filers are separated by a wide gap from all challengers, but momentum data shows that several second-tier players are growing faster in recent periods, signalling a more contested mid-tier.
Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm holds 20,865 patent records — the largest position in the corpus by a wide margin — with primary emphasis on H04W 72 (wireless resource scheduling, 3,877 records), H04L 5 (channel multiplexing/transmission, 3,781 records), and H04B 7 (antenna/beamforming transmission, 2,431 records). Its recent three-year filing rate ran at 49× its prior three-year level, reflecting a massive acceleration from a small early base as Open RAN standardization took hold.
patent records: 20,865Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Huawei holds 10,456 patent records, focused on H04W 72 (358 records), H04W 24 (network management/QoS, 201 records), and H04L 5 (190 records), mirroring Qualcomm’s subclass profile but at roughly half the volume. Its recent three-year filing rate grew at 25× its prior three-year level — a large multiplier that, like Qualcomm’s, reflects rapid scaling from a modest prior base rather than an already large portfolio in transition.
patent records: 10,456| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm Incorporated | 10,446 | ▲ 49× vs prior 3-yr |
| Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 1,032 | ▲ 25× vs prior 3-yr |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 609 | ▲ 5.2× vs prior 3-yr |
| DISH Wireless LLC | 462 | ▲ 13× vs prior 3-yr |
| Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) | 349 | ▲ +127% |
| Jio Platforms Ltd. | 375 | ▲ new entrant |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | 267 | ▲ new entrant |
| Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd. | 201 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served adjacent branches in AI, positioning, and data processing
Three IPC branches sit at roughly 2% share each within the Open RAN corpus — materially present but thin relative to the dominant wireless subclasses — and each has plausible technical relevance to next-generation open-interface radio networks.
G06N · AI and machine-learning models
With 607 patent records, AI-model computing is among the sparsest substantial branches in the corpus despite AI-driven RAN optimization (reinforcement learning for traffic management, graph neural networks for resource allocation) appearing in several of the most-cited patents in the field. The thin filing count relative to the dominant H04W and H04L classes suggests that applied AI methods for RAN control loops remain an under-protected area. Teams with expertise in ML inference at the radio edge could establish credible positions here before the subclass densifies.
Search this in Eureka →G01S · Radar, sonar and positioning
Positioning and sensing (585 patent records) is sparse relative to core wireless subclasses, yet integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is a recognised direction in 5G-Advanced and 6G standardization. The low filing count in G01S within the Open RAN corpus indicates that the intersection of open-interface radio architecture with sensing and positioning functions is largely unclaimed. Entrants working on ISAC signalling protocols or RAN-embedded positioning layers face less prior-art density than in core H04W subclasses.
Search this in Eureka →How leading Open RAN filers differ by technology subclass emphasis
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H04W 72 · Wireless communication networks | H04L 5 · Digital information transmission | H04W 24 · Wireless communication networks | H04B 7 · Transmission (general) | H04W 52 · Wireless communication networks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm Incorporated | Strong · 3,877 | Strong · 3,781 | Moderate · 1,617 | Strong · 2,431 | Moderate · 1,141 |
| Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Strong · 358 | Strong · 190 | Strong · 201 | Moderate · 151 | Moderate · 105 |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Strong · 202 | Strong · 108 | Strong · 179 | Strong · 134 | Emerging · 40 |
| Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) | Moderate · 71 | Moderate · 49 | Strong · 193 | Strong · 120 | Moderate · 47 |
| DISH Wireless LLC | Moderate · 54 | Moderate · 34 | Strong · 150 | Absent | Absent |
| Rakuten Mobile, Inc. | Absent | Absent | Strong · 124 | Absent | Strong · 73 |
| Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd. | Strong · 60 | Absent | Strong · 71 | Absent | Moderate · 23 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 19,966 patent families in scope globally. The applicant ranking and jurisdiction counts are measured at the patent-record level, where a single family can appear in multiple jurisdictions or IPC classes.
Qualcomm Incorporated leads with 20,865 patent records, more than double the second-ranked Huawei Technologies at 10,456 patent records. Both accelerated sharply in the recent three-year period.
The field is classified as Growth stage. Recent three-year filings sit well above the prior three-year window, confirming multi-year expansion. Annual volume has eased from its 2023 reported peak, and 2024–2025 figures are further reduced by publication lag, so the apparent softening should not be read as a real decline.
The United States leads with 9,585 patent records, followed by WIPO PCT at 5,726 and the European Patent Office at 4,285. Secondary markets — Philippines, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia — each hold fewer than 110 patent records.
The most-cited patents by citation count cover reinforcement learning for multi-access traffic management (324 citations), radio access network intelligent application management (232 citations), active assurance for virtualized services (212 citations), and graph neural network and reinforcement learning techniques (190 citations). These suggest that AI-driven RAN orchestration is the area of highest intellectual influence.
Three adjacent branches each account for roughly 2% of the corpus: G06N (AI and machine-learning models, 607 records), G01S (radar, sonar and positioning, 585 records), and G06F (electric digital data processing, 526 records). These are under-served relative to the dominant H04W and H04L classes and may offer entry opportunities for teams with relevant technical expertise, though sparsity alone does not confirm commercial viability.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
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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