Ericsson has filed patent suits against Apple in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands after failing to negotiate a global licensing agreement.
The lawsuits cover to Ericsson's standards-essential patents covering the 2G and LTE standards, as well as related non-standards essential patents.
In a statement, Ericsson said it has been trying for two years to negotiate an agreement for Ericsson's standards-essential patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Ericsson had offered to enter arbitration to reach a mutually beneficial global licensing agreement, but this offer has now expired.
"Apple continues to profit from Ericsson's technology without having a valid license in place,” Ericsson chief intellectual property officer Kasim Alfalahi said.
“Our technology is used in many features and functionality of today's communication devices. We are confident the courts in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands will be able to help us resolve this matter in a fair manner.”
The statement asserts that Ericsson is maintaining a commitment to licensing standards-essential patents on FRAND terms to provide a level playing field for all companies.
Ericsson's extensive IP portfolios cover more than 37,000 granted patents, a significant portion of which are essential to modern network design.