Apple NFC access could be opened to rival payment providers under a proposal put out for consultation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority on October 20, 2026. The regulator is seeking feedback until November 17, 2026, on requirements intended to increase competition in digital wallets on Apple’s mobile platform.
Key Takeaways
- The proposal would require Apple to give third-party developers access to NFC technology for competing payment services.
- The consultation is not a final rule or an implemented change to Apple’s platform.
- The initiative follows an earlier evidence-gathering exercise on NFC access launched in June 2026.
Table of Contents
- Apple NFC access proposal targets wallet competition
- Proposal follows wider scrutiny of Apple’s platform
- Conclusion
Apple NFC access proposal targets wallet competition
The CMA’s proposed NFC access conduct requirement concerns the contactless technology used for mobile payments on Apple’s platform. Its objective is to make it easier for competing payment providers to offer alternatives to Apple Pay.
The regulator argues that Apple’s fees and restrictions on access create barriers for rivals, limiting innovation and consumer choice. Opening access would address the underlying technology available to developers, rather than simply allowing another wallet app to be listed.
For consumers, the potential change is a broader choice of contactless payment services on their devices. That remains a prospective outcome: the consultation itself does not establish that new services are available or that developers have received access.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2025 | CMA opened its initial strategic market status investigation into Apple’s mobile platform. |
| April 1, 2026 | CMA published final Apple commitments concerning aspects of its mobile platform. |
| June 30, 2026 | CMA published a call for evidence on NFC access on iOS. |
Proposal follows wider scrutiny of Apple’s platform
The NFC consultation sits within a broader regulatory process. The CMA designated Apple as having strategic market status in its mobile platform on October 22, 2025, covering its mobile operating systems, native app distribution, mobile browser and browser engine.
The regulator subsequently sought evidence on NFC access on iOS in June 2026. The October proposal moves that work into consultation on a specific conduct requirement, rather than marking the start of scrutiny of Apple’s payment technology.
The November 17 consultation deadline is the next scheduled milestone. The proposal’s eventual requirements and any implementation timetable remain distinct from the decision to seek feedback.
Conclusion
The immediate development is a proposed access requirement, not a completed opening of Apple’s payment technology. Feedback submitted by November 17, 2026, is the next step in determining how the CMA’s wallet competition proposal develops.
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