The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed a conduct requirement for Apple on 20 October under the DMCC Act, covering access to the iPhone's NFC chip. Apple would have to give third-party wallet providers access through both HCE and the secure element, under principles that keep fees substantially lower. The consultation runs until 17 November 2026. According to the CMA, contactless accounts for 39% of payments and 62% of adults use a digital wallet.

What it means: Until recently, only Apple Pay could use the iPhone's NFC antenna for in-store payments. That meant banks and wallet providers had to go through Apple and pay its fees. In the EU, after Apple's commitments to the European Commission, access opened and services such as Vipps, PayPal, Klarna, Curve and BBVA launched their own wallets. The CMA wants to bring something similar to the UK, using the new regime for firms with strategic market status. Requiring two technical access routes matters: HCE works through software, while the secure element offers higher security, which some banks prefer. Fees are perhaps the most critical issue, because if Apple charges as much as it does for Apple Pay, opening up will have little practical value. The proposal is under consultation and may change. For Greece, which applies the EU framework, the EU experience shows that opening NFC gives banks and local solutions room to offer iPhone payments without depending on Apple Pay.

Read the original on GOV.UK (CMA)

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