Huawei bumps up patent portfolio as 5G approaches, plans to spend $600 million on R&D from 2013 to 2018

China's Huawei Technologies, the world's second-biggest maker of network gear, is beefing up its patent portfolio ahead of 5G, the next generation of mobile equipment, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Huawei, also the world's fourth-largest maker of smartphones, has said it plans to spend $600 million on 5G wireless research and development from 2013 to 2018. But speaking to reporters at the Mobile World Congress on Tuesday, Huawei Chief Executive Ken Hu said that 5G research spending was likely to rise, without giving specific figures.