What's at stake
Control over Nortel's patents for existing cellphone network technology and its plans for a new system that would enable cellphone users to download even more data like movies and music.
What it means
The winner will be able to influence how networks are built in the future, guaranteeing access for its own customers.
Why that's crucial
The world is running out of airwaves for cellphones and devices like the BlackBerry as more and more data fly through the ether, which will lead to battles for the last scraps of space.