Apple tap-to-pay technology faces a proposed opening to greater competition in the UK after the Competition and Markets Authority published plans on October 20, 2026, to widen access to iPhone contactless technology. The proposals would address both technical restrictions and commercial terms, but they are not final requirements.
Key Takeaways
- The CMA wants businesses to have broader access to iPhone contactless technology.
- The regulator expects its proposed pricing principles to produce substantially lower access fees.
- Consultation closes on November 17, 2026, before a final decision.
Table of Contents
- Apple tap-to-pay proposals target access and fees
- The potential opening extends beyond payment apps
- Consultation comes before any final requirement
- Conclusion
Apple tap-to-pay proposals target access and fees
The CMA’s proposals for iPhone contactless access would require Apple to offer businesses a choice of the main internationally used contactless technology standards. The regulator is also seeking terms that allow competing services to develop commercially viable products.
The CMA said businesses had raised concerns that Apple’s existing near field communication, or NFC, arrangements could be commercially unviable because of fees, onerous terms and differing technical approaches across markets.
The regulator is not proposing to set access prices directly. Instead, it has proposed principles for determining charges, with the expectation that fees would be substantially lower than Apple’s current charges while still fairly rewarding the company for providing access.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal framework | Proposed conduct requirement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. |
| Current UK technical offering | Apple currently offers secure element access, which stores information on-device. |
| Additional proposed option | Host-based card emulation, which stores data off-device, would also have to be offered. |
The potential opening extends beyond payment apps
The technology supports more than retail payments. The CMA identified digital identity tools, travel passes, loyalty services and digital keys as possible uses of broader access.
For competitors, the distinction between technical and commercial access matters: permission to use a device feature does not necessarily make a product viable if the associated fees or conditions prevent a workable business model.
The CMA said no firm had launched a wallet-type product to compete with Apple’s in the UK, unlike in the EU. It cited the launch of Vipps and subsequent alternatives after Apple agreed to provide NFC access for payments there. That comparison explains the regulator’s competition concerns, rather than guaranteeing a similar UK outcome.
Consultation comes before any final requirement
The proposals remain subject to consultation and assessment. The CMA said it would make a final decision after considering responses, so the announcement does not establish that Apple must immediately change its UK access arrangements.
The regulator’s expectation of lower fees is also a proposed outcome, not an announced reduction in Apple’s charges.
Conclusion
The next confirmed milestone is the consultation deadline on November 17, 2026. The final scope of any access requirement will depend on the CMA’s assessment of responses.
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