The UK's competition regulator wants rival wallets to get more workable access to iPhone contactless technology. The proposals are still under consultation.
Building a payment app can depend on what a phone maker lets your software do, and what it charges for that access. The UK's competition regulator is now challenging those conditions on the iPhone.
On 20 October 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority opened a consultation on wider access to Apple's contactless technology. This is the technology that lets a phone communicate with a nearby payment terminal, commonly called NFC.
The CMA proposes giving businesses a choice of the main contactless technical approaches used internationally. It also proposes pricing principles that it expects would produce substantially lower access fees. It is not proposing to set a specific price.
The potential uses extend beyond rival payment wallets to travel passes, digital keys and loyalty services. The regulator says contactless represented 39% of UK payments in 2025, counting both cards and mobile devices.
These are proposals, not new access rights that developers can use today. The consultation closes on 17 November 2026, with a final decision to follow assessment of responses.
Reuters reports that Apple says developers already have contactless access through its existing system. Apple also argues that the proposed alternative would offer weaker privacy and security protections. The CMA says the technical approaches do not raise inherent security concerns.
For a team planning a wallet or digital pass, the commercial question is whether each transaction can cover the costs of platform access, payment processing and support. A working prototype alone cannot answer that.
Ask your developer to document which phone features the product needs, where access is available, and which approvals or agreements stand between a demo and launch. Keep existing charges separate from possible future charges in your budget.
A hotel considering digital room keys should also test what guests do when their phone is unavailable or unsupported. Physical access still needs a fallback.
This UK process does not establish access in Nigeria or other markets. Before commissioning a mobile application, confirm the rules for the countries you will serve and budget against terms available today.
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