LG Electronics (LG) has announced signing a patent license agreement with Amazon, granting the use of LG’s Wi-Fi Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). Under this agreement, Amazon obtains a license to use LG’s Wi-Fi SEPs in products utilizing Wi-Fi connectivity, including Amazon’s Echo devices, Fire TV Sticks and Fire Tablets. The agreement cements LG’s technological leadership and credibility in the global Wi-Fi standards domain, even as the company continues to engage in Wi-Fi SEP licensing discussions with several other global companies that employ Wi-Fi standard technologies.
SEPs refer to core patents that must be practiced when implementing an international technical standard, meaning any product using that standard inevitably relies on the patented technology. Once a technology is adopted as an international standard by global standardization organizations, companies around the world incorporate it into their products. Recognition as an SEP signifies both the contribution to advancing the entire industry and its technological value.
“This agreement reaffirms LG’s global leadership in Wi-Fi standard technologies,” said Cho Hwi-jae, head of LG’s Intellectual Property Center. “We will continue to drive innovation worldwide by building on our industry-leading patent competitiveness.”
LG holds one of the world’s strongest patent portfolios in key standard technology fields, including mobile communications, Wi-Fi, broadcasting and codecs. As of the first half of this year, LG owned 97,880 registered patents globally, about half of which are standard-related patents. The company’s innovative patented technologies, applied across flagship products such as OLED TVs, washing machines and refrigerators, continue to reinforce its global competitiveness.
For Kenya, this announcement is important because the country has recently experienced rapid growth in internet connectivity and digital technology adoption. According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, internet use has now reached 35% of the population, with Wi-Fi connectivity playing a key role in homes, businesses and public spaces. Products like Amazon’s Fire TV and Echo devices are increasingly popular in urban areas such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, particularly among middle- and upper-income households with high broadband adoption. The licensing of LG’s Wi-Fi SEPs ensures that such devices operate efficiently while adhering to international standards, which could improve product reliability and consumer confidence in Kenya’s tech ecosystem.
Additionally, Kenya’s growing tech innovation hub rely on standardized wireless technologies to develop IoT solutions, smart city applications and AI-driven services. Access to technologies under patent licenses such as LG’s could indirectly support local startups by fostering compatibility with global devices and platforms, boosting interoperability and potentially stimulating domestic IP development.
Looking ahead, LG aims to further strengthen its patent leadership in emerging technology areas such as 6G mobile communications, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. In its vehicle solutions business, LG has also been recognized for leadership in augmented reality (AR) technologies, earning top honors for its pioneering AR navigation patent.
Since 2022, LG has formally included the licensing of patents and other intellectual property rights in its corporate charter, accelerating efforts to build sustainable value through IP-driven innovation.
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