• Ericsson filed a lawsuit in Nigeria accusing Transsion of using several essential mobile-technology patents without a valid licence.
• The dispute follows nearly a decade of failed FRAND negotiations, according to Ericsson.
• Transsion controls more than 50% of Africa’s smartphone market as of Q2 2025, according to Canalys.

Chinese smartphone group Transsion, which held more than 50% of Africa’s smartphone market in the second quarter of 2025, now faces a legal dispute with Swedish telecom-equipment maker Ericsson.

Ericsson announced on 14 November 2025 that it filed a lawsuit against Transsion in Nigeria. The Swedish company accused the Chinese manufacturer of violating several of its mobile-technology patents. The action forms part of a wider series of similar lawsuits that Ericsson has launched in India, Brazil and other jurisdictions.

Court filings show that Ericsson believes Transsion—the parent company of Tecno, Itel and Infinix—uses essential technologies covered by its patents without a valid licence. The patents relate to core mobile-communication standards used in the smartphones that Transsion sells across West Africa.

In its statement, Ericsson said: “Transsion’s perpetual delay tactics impact the innovation cycle in telecommunications, creating an anti-competitive environment for competitors who have properly obtained a licence to Ericsson’s patented standard-essential technology.”

The conflict emerges amid a surge in lawsuits involving Standard Essential Patents (SEP), as technology suppliers seek to enforce their intellectual-property rights against fast-growing manufacturers. Ericsson said it attempted multiple times to negotiate licences with Transsion under FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) terms but failed to reach an agreement.

“Despite nearly a decade of negotiations, Transsion continues to reject Ericsson’s FRAND offers and fails to conclude a global patent-licence agreement,” the company said.

The dispute comes as Transsion strengthens its dominance in Africa. According to Canalys, the company controlled more than 50% of smartphone shipments in Q2 2025, driven by devices offering long-lasting batteries, universal dual-SIM features and affordable pricing.

A ruling against Transsion could carry several implications for Africa’s mobile-phone market. Analysts say it could trigger sales restrictions, raise import costs for Tecno, Itel and Infinix devices, or lead to financial penalties.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum