On the 2nd, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced the decision on administrative punishment against Qualcomm, which introduced in detail for the first time the basis for determining Qualcomm's market dominance and its abuse, including Qualcomm's market dominance in the wireless standard essential patent licensing market and the baseband chip market, the behavior of the parties abusing their market dominance, and the basis and decision of administrative punishment.
According to this decision, among CDMA, WCDMA and LTE wireless communication technical standards, Qualcomm holds a number of necessary patents for wireless standards, including its market share in relevant markets is100%; Have the ability to control the necessary wireless standard patent licensing market; Wireless communication terminal manufacturers are highly dependent on Qualcomm's necessary wireless standard patent portfolio license; It is more difficult for other operators to enter the relevant market.
In CDMA baseband chip market, WCDMA baseband chip market and LTE baseband chip market, Qualcomm occupies a dominant position in the market, including its market share in related markets exceeding1/2; Ability to control the relevant baseband chip market; Major wireless communication terminal manufacturers are highly dependent on Qualcomm baseband chips; The entry threshold of baseband chip market is high and difficult.
Extended material: From the historic surpassing of Intel in market value at the end of last year, to the speech of CES at the beginning of this year, and to the global success of LTE chips, Qualcomm has changed from a pure technology company to a hot spot in the communication industry. However, a series of recent events about China have completely exposed the success or failure of Qualcomm.
In particular, Qualcomm's plan to collect TD-LTE patent fees has become an emotional outlet for China's communication industry to split its cognition on the 4G standard of independent intellectual property rights.
The news came out almost at the same time. Seemingly unrelated, but inextricably linked.
Qualcomm announced on Monday that "China's National Development and Reform Commission has investigated Qualcomm according to China's anti-monopoly law. The Development and Reform Commission of China said that the contents of the investigation were confidential. Qualcomm is still not aware of any monopolistic behavior, but will continue to cooperate with the secret investigation of the China Development and Reform Commission. " This brief news triggered concentrated reports and speculations from major foreign media.
Perhaps related to the "anti-monopoly" investigation, Qualcomm announced at the analyst meeting that he would get more patent fee income from China in 20 14. Qualcomm pointed out that with the commercialization of TD-LTE by China Mobile next year, Qualcomm will be able to provide chips and get patent fees from China Mobile. At the sensitive moment when China is about to issue 4G licenses, this news puts Qualcomm at the forefront of the domestic communication industry.
Almost at the same time of being investigated for "monopoly", Qualcomm broke the news of layoffs and will readjust its business in China. This adjustment includes laying off the QRD team in China with poor performance, which is probably a major change in the operation strategy of China's chip business with the transformation from 3G to 4G.
Not long ago, Reservation Jacob said that the US restrictions on China companies and the exposure of the US National Security Bureau surveillance scandal "changed the way Qualcomm operates in China".
People's Daily Online-National Development and Reform Commission announces evidence of monopoly in Qualcomm: charging unfair and high-priced patent fees.