The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on proposed changes to third-party access to iPhone contactless payments. Revolut is reported to support the initiative, which concerns the terms for rival wallets seeking to compete with Apple Pay.
The consultation follows NeoTeo’s earlier report that the CMA was expected to examine rival access to iPhone NFC.
What the proposed access would change
The proposal is reported to add Host Card Emulation (HCE) alongside Secure Element (SE) access already offered in the UK. Near-field communication (NFC) lets a phone interact with a nearby reader for contactless payments.
The reported approach to fees would set principles for calculating access charges rather than a fixed amount. The CMA is reported to expect substantially lower charges than under current terms.
The CMA’s concerns and Apple’s response
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said developers had told the regulator that high fees, strict terms and technical restrictions around Apple’s contactless technology make it harder for challengers to innovate and compete.
Apple opposes a requirement that it says would lower privacy and security protections. The company says it will continue to engage with the CMA.
Responses are due November 17
The reported deadline for responses to the CMA consultation is November 17, 2026.
