Nortel Networks along with its subsidiaries has garnered USD 4.5 billion cash from auction of 6000 patents. The auction was won by consortium of six companies which included Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Research In Motion and Sony.

"Following a very robust auction, we are pleased at the outcome of the auction of this extensive patent portfolio", Nortel Chief Strategy Officer and President (Business Units) George Riedel was quoted saying in a statement.

"The size and dollar value for this transaction is unprecedented, as was the significant interest in the portfolio among major companies around the world," it added.

The sale included more than 6,000 patents and patent applications spanning wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, internet, service provider, semiconductors and other patents, the statement said.

These patent of Nortel portfolio touches nearly every aspect of telecommunications and additional markets as well, including Internet search and social networking. Ericsson contributed USD 340 million to the cash deal.

Contributions of other companies companies could not be ascertained at the time the report was written.

The sale is subject to applicable Canadian and US Court approvals, which will be sought at a joint hearing expected to be held on July 11, 2011.

Nortel filed application for bankruptcy protection in US and Canada court in January 2009.