UK CMA Proposes Opening iPhone NFC to Rival Wallets

The UK's CMA opened a consultation on October 20, 2026, on rules requiring Apple to give third-party digital wallets access to the iPhone's NFC chip via both Secure Element and Host Card Emulation. The consultation runs until November 17, and Apple plans to contest the proposals. Five rival wallets have launched in Europe since July 2024, but none in the UK.

• CMA requires NFC access through both Secure Element and Host Card Emulation
• Consultation runs until November 17, 2026; no final order issued
• Five rival wallets launched in the EU since July 2024, zero in the UK
• Apple may challenge a binding requirement at the Competition Appeal Tribunal