Home > Cellular IoT 3d render image of numerous black bubbles and a red one. Understanding the Cellular IoT Patent Landscape Gain Clarity into Cellular IoT patent landscape for NB-IoT, LTE-M, Cat 1 and V2X Ownership Discover How It Works LexisNexis® IPlytics™ brings clarity to the fragmented world of Cellular IoT by mapping ETSI-declared patents to the specific standards they relate to — including NB-IoT, LTE-M, Cat 1, and V2X. Our machine-learning based LexisNexis® Classification and expert validation ensure you see exactly which patents align with each protocol, helping you assess risk, benchmark portfolios, and support licensing, compliance, or legal strategies with confidence. What are Cellular IoT Standards? Cellular IoT standards are purpose-built subsets of 4G, 5G, and bridging technologies designed to support a wide array of IoT applications. Developed by 3GPP, standards such as NB-IoT and LTE-M enable power-efficient, low-bandwidth communication ideal for smart meters and trackers. LTE Cat 1 supports higher data rates, suiting applications like point-of-sale devices. V2X connects vehicles to infrastructure and their surroundings, enabling real-time communication for connected and autonomous mobility. These standards offer reliable, scalable connectivity to power the next generation of connected devices. The Complex Cellular IoT Standard Patent Landscape It is not transparent which ETSI-declared 4G and 5G patents belong to specific Cellular IoT standards—such as NB-IoT, LTE-M, Cat 1, or V2X—because ETSI declarations typically reference broad 3GPP specifications without indicating the exact feature, or technical layer. As a result, identifying which patents are truly relevant to a particular Cellular IoT standard requires advanced analysis, such as a technical assessment against the standard specifications. Patent declarations lack claim-level precision or technical mapping, making the landscape fragmented and opaque—especially when over-declaration or blanket disclosures are involved. Identifying Cellular IoT patents IPlytics offers a strategic approach to uncovering these hidden assets: Identification Using AI-based technology classification, we identified ETSI declared patents potentially related to the NB-IoT, LTE-M, Cat 1, or V2X. Validation Experts review these findings to confirm their relevance to the different Cellular IoT standards. Unrelated patents are removed from the training data, and the classification model is trained on the updated data. Ownership Our approach simplifies the identification of patent holders. Thus, making it easier to understand “who owns what” within the dynamic Cellular IoT patent ecosystem. Navigating Cellular IoT Licensors, Licensees & Law Firms’ Market Licensors : Major technology firms and patent holders offer SEP licenses to manufacturers and service providers worldwide. These licensors play a crucial role in enabling the widespread adoption of the different Cellular IoT. To successfully close SEP licensing deals, licensors must demonstrate their share within the Cellular IoT space. The Cellular IoT patent landscape makes it possible to calculate a portfolio’s relative share by comparing it to the overall stack of declared Cellular IoT patents, offering a clearer basis for valuation and negotiation. Licensees : Companies integrating Cellular IoT technologies into their products must be prepared to obtain licenses from SEP holders. This affects a broad range of industries—including smart meter manufacturers, automotive OEMs, payment device makers, logistics asset tracking solutions or agricultural tracking solutions—all of which rely on Cellular IoT to enable advanced, connected services for their customers. Law firms and SEP Consultants : Legal teams and consultants specializing in SEP disputes and FRAND determination have to navigating the complexities of Cellular IoT licensing. They play a vital role in evaluating portfolios, negotiating licenses, and ensuring compliance with FRAND terms, helping clients optimize their IP strategies and mitigate risks in the evolving Cellular IoT landscape. Want to See LexisNexis® IPlytics™ in Action? Explore how our platform helps you navigate the Cellular IoT patent landscape with clarity and confidence.
