Amazon has signed a licence agreement that lets it use LG’s wifi technology in its Echo devices, Fire TV sticks and Fire tablets.

South Korean firm LG Electronics has granted Amazon the use of its wifi standard essential patents (SEPs). Under this agreement, Amazon obtains a licence to use LG’s wifi SEPs in products using wifi connectivity.

LG is engaged in wifi SEP licensing discussions with several global companies that employ wifi 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 standardisation organisations, 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.

LG holds one of the world’s strongest patent portfolios in key standard technology fields, including mobile communications, wifi, 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 holds 26,762 domestic patents and 71,118 overseas patents. Its patented technologies have been applied across flagship products such as OLED TVs, washing machines and refrigerators.

Looking ahead, LG aims to strengthen its patent portfolio in emerging technology areas such as 6G mobile communications, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, AI and quantum computing. In its vehicles business, LG has also been recognised for its work in augmented reality (AR) technologies, earning honours for its 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.

“This agreement reaffirms LG’s global leadership in wifi standard technologies,” said Cho Hwi-jae, head of LG’s intellectual property centre. “We will continue to drive innovation worldwide by building on our industry-leading patent competitiveness.”

LG Electronics (www.lg.com) is a innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000.