Brussels, 19 December 2016 – The Fair Standards Alliance (FSA) today welcomed leading Paris-based European chipmaker Sequans Communications (NYSE: SQNS) to its more than twenty strong membership group.
Sequans is a leading 4G chip manufacturer with a global footprint in enabling the ecosystem for the future of Internet of Things. As a leading European SME tech company, the FSA membership is delighted to join forces with Sequans Communications to support building a Europe ready to lead in the creation of the Internet of Things (IoT) through the licensing of standards-essential patents (SEPs) on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
“Sequans is a market-leader chipmaker in 4G and a European company with global influence when it comes to ground-breaking innovation within IoT. We are delighted – as we celebrate the FSA’s first anniversary – that Sequans has decided to bring its expertise to our growing coalition determined to make Europe an innovation leader.” said Robert Pocknell, Chairman of the FSA.
Deborah Choate, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Sequans has joined the FSA because – just like the FSA – we have positioned Sequans at the heart of future innovation for the IoT. We are excited to share FSA’s principles and values for a fairer and more balanced international system of licensing for standard essential patents.”
The FSA believes that the innovation ecosystem – especially in Europe – is threatened by unfair and unreasonable SEP licensing practices. Failure to honour the FRAND commitment that exists in most standardisation licensing creates barriers to market entry, threatens to stifle the full potential for economic growth across major industry sectors – such as the automotive sector – and ultimately curbs consumer choice.
About the Fair Standards Alliance:
Launched in November 2015 and based in Europe, the Alliance seeks to promote the licensing of standards-essential patents (SEPs) on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
The FSA believes that the entire innovation ecosystem is threatened by unfair and unreasonable SEP licensing practices. Failure to honour the FRAND commitment that exists in most standardisation licensing creates barriers to market entry, threatens to stifle the full potential for economic growth across major industry sectors, and ultimately curbs consumer choice.
The FSA’s member companies – spend billions of euros annually on R&D and hold hundreds of thousands of patents between them – include: AirTies, BMW, Cisco, Daimler, Dell, Fairphone, Google, HP, Hyundai, Intel, ip.access, Juniper Networks, Lenovo, Micromax, peiker acustic, Sequans, Sierra Wireless, Telit, Tesla, u-blox and Volkswagen.
About Sequans:
Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS) is a 4G LTE chipmaker and leading provider of single-mode LTE chipset solutions to wireless device manufacturers worldwide. Founded in 2003, Sequans has developed and delivered seven generations of 4G technology and its chips are certified and shipping in 4G networks around the world. Today, Sequans offers two LTE product lines: StreamrichLTE™, optimized for feature-rich mobile computing and home/portable router devices, and StreamliteLTE™, optimized for M2M devices and other connected devices for the Internet of Things. Sequans is based in Paris, France with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and China.
For further information
FSA Press Office: John Clancy +32 (0)498 953 773
FSA General Information: +32 (0)2 289 0802, [email protected]