Qualcomm not been notified about reasons for China's antitrust probe: CEO

Qualcomm's CEO Paul Jacobs said on Wednesday that the U.S. mobile chipmaker still has not been notified about why it has come under antitrust scrutiny in China since late last year.

In November, Qualcomm announced that China's National Development and Reform Commission had launched an antitrust probe into the company. The chipmaker said it was unaware of any possible violations.

(Also see: Qualcomm announces it is facing an antitrust probe in China)

"We really don't know yet," Jacobs told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. He added that it is not unusual for authorities in various countries not to disclose reasons for their antitrust probes.

Qualcomm has since handed over requested documents to the NDRC.

The NDRC has launched nearly 20 pricing-related probes of domestic and foreign firms in the last three years, according to official media and research published by law firms.

In December, state media quoted a senior official at the NDRC saying the regulator had "substantial evidence" against the chipmaker.

(Also see: China says it has 'substantial' price-fixing evidence against Qualcomm)

Some experts have suggested China's government may be seeking leverage in royalty negotiations or moving to support local suppliers trying to compete with Qualcomm, the global leader in 4G technology, also known as Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

(Also see: China's anti-trust Qualcomm probe may be aimed at 4G royalties)

In the last few months, organizations affiliated with the Chinese government spent nearly $3 billion to buy Chinese mobile chipmakers Spreadtrum Communications Inc and RDA Microelectronics Inc. Both companies have technology that competes with Qualcomm's.

"We're good with the operators because we help the operators out a lot," Jacobs said. "China has a couple of chipset manufacturers that just got bought by a government university so there are all sorts of dynamics going on."

Qualcomm, the world's biggest maker of cellphone chips, sees China as a key market as growth in smartphones shifts away from the United States to developing countries. China Mobile has been preparing to upgrade to high-speed networks using technology developed by Qualcomm.

"I wouldn't single out any particular company at this point but we definitely have friends and we definitely have companies that we know are more antagonistic," said Jacobs, who will step aside as Qualcomm's CEO in March. He will be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Steve Mollenkopf.

(Also see: Qualcomm names Mollenkopf its new CEO, ends Microsoft speculation)

© Thomson Reuters 2014

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