Liaison statement
NGMN Recommendations regarding the Transparency of SEP Disclosures

1. About the NGMN Alliance
The NGMN Alliance is an industry organization of leading world-wide Telecom
Operators, Vendors and Research Institutes (see www.ngmn.org) and was founded
by international network operators in 2006. Its objective is to ensure that the
functionality and performance of next generation mobile network infrastructure,
service platforms and devices will meet the requirements of operators and,
ultimately, will satisfy end user demand and expectations. The NGMN Alliance
will drive and guide the development of all future mobile broadband technology
enhancements with a focus on 5G. The targets of these activities are supported
by the strong and well-established partnership of worldwide leading operators,
vendors, universities, and successful co-operations with other industry
organisations.

2. NGMN 5G Work-Programme, IPR Eco-System for 5G SEP
In February 2015 the NGMN Alliance published its 5G White Paper providing
consolidated 5G operator requirements
(https://www.ngmn.org/5g-white-paper.html). With reference to IPR, NGMN is
developing recommendations and an implementation strategy supporting a more
transparent and predictable IPR eco-system for 5G Standards Essential Patents
(SEP) across industries that will support sustainable implementation of 5G
technologies and ensure that innovation is stimulated and innovators
appropriately rewarded. One of the business objectives is to make 5G accessible
for all types of devices from high-end smartphones and tablets down to low-end
MTC (Machine Type Communication) devices such as smoke detectors and sensors.
In support of this objective, the IP licensing terms and conditions for 5G
market should be fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory so as to enable
sustainable and successful mass deployment of any 5G service or Product Type
including MTC devices to support the Internet of Things (IoT). One of the
objectives is to improve the transparency of 5G Standard Essential Patent (SEP)
Disclosures.

3. Recommendations

In order to achieve this objective, NGMN is kindly requesting Standards
Developing Organizations working on 5G technologies to consider the
recommendations in the enclosed Annex relating to the disclosure and licensing
of patents and patent applications (collectively, “Patents”) as potentially
essential to a standard. NGMN is continuing to improve the recommendations and
may come up with further updates. Any feedback on the recommendations in this
Liaison Statement will be appreciated.