The global telecommunications company Ericsson says it expects to accelerate research and development of 5G technologies to enhance its competitiveness in intellectual property.

The first 5G-equipped phone call was dialed out by Ericsson this month. The experiment opens a door for marketing 5G-related infrastructure, intelligent cellphones and other mobile devices, the company said.

Robert Earle, vice-president of Assertion and Enforcement for IP Rights and Licensing at Ericsson, said the company will invest more in 5G, whose speed is 10 times that of 4G, and promote its application in many fields.

The new technology can also facilitate automatic driving and make remote surgery a reality.

In addition, 5G is more energy efficient because it has smarter scheduling techniques that switch on transmitting equipment only when needed.

The company has organized discussions about 5G since 2011 and now has the most 5G patent applications worldwide, showing its leading role in the emerging sector.

The company invests 15 percent of its annual revenue in R&D, which amounts to about three to four times its licensing revenue.

There have been significant changes in policies on IP protection in China, which have resulted in recent court decisions providing guidance on further protection.

Source: Chinadaily