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10 November 2022PatentsStaff Writer

Operator launches cellular IoT patent pool

Major patent owners including Sony, Ericsson, and Optis sign up to new pool | Initial focus is on smart meters and asset trackers | Pool offers a single solution to license SEPs in the growing tech space.

Companies including  Ericsson,  Mitsubishi Electric,  Orange and  Sony have joined patent pool operator  Sisvel International in the launch of a cellular internet of things (IoT) patent pool.

The pool—announced yesterday, November 9—consists of 20 patents owners and remains open for new participants who own relevant patents.

Initially, the patent pool will focus on smart meters and asset trackers.

Other companies in the patent pool include MediaTek, Optis Wireless, Optis Cellular, Telefónica and Unwired Planet.

According to Sisvel, the patent pool offers a single solution to license standard-essential patents (SEPs) that are essential for use of cellular low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) standards. LPWAN is a type of wireless telecommunication network, designed to allow long-range communications at a low bit rate, and include long-term evolution for machines (LTE-M) and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT).

Mattia Fogliacco, president of the Sisvel Group, said: “The IoT market has been in development for about a decade; however, only now we see clear early signs of widespread roll-out.

“The LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies are an obvious pick to connect products and services, and with this pool—available already in an early phase of technology adoption—we will remove a lot of questions and concerns by giving easy, transparent and reasonable access to the patents that the creators of the technology hold.”

Sven Törringer, the programme manager of the Sisvel C-IoT patent pool, added: “This has been a harmonious process and we are convinced that the offer we bring to the market will not only reduce friction and concerns, but rather boost the interest in the adoption of the LTE-M and NB-IoT standards in IoT products, allowing for swift investments in this sense.”

The pool has committed to make the terms of LTE-M and NB-IoT competitive, to encourage the use of the LPWAN cellular IoT standards.

In July, Sisvel  launched a patent pool on Wi-Fi 6 technology, with Huawei, Mediatek, Philips, SK Telecom and Wilus forming the initial membership.

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