A Financial Times report, relayed by TradingView/Seeking Alpha on October 16, 2026, said the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was expected to consult the following week on proposals concerning rival access to iPhone contactless-payment technology. The report also said Apple was likely to challenge a resulting decision in court.
What the reported proposal could change
The proposed consultation concerned whether rivals could gain broader access to iPhone technology used for tap-to-pay, potentially through changes to iOS that would let users choose alternative wallets. The report named PayPal, Revolut, Monzo and traditional banks as potential beneficiaries if access expands.
What Apple already allows UK developers to do
Apple's August 14, 2024, announcement describes a separate route for UK developers to offer app-based contactless transactions, including in-store payments, using its NFC and Secure Element APIs. NFC is the technology behind contactless communication; the Secure Element is a certified chip on the device for storing sensitive information.
That route has conditions set by Apple: developers must request an entitlement, sign a commercial agreement, pay associated fees and meet Apple's security and privacy standards. Users can select an eligible app as their default contactless app in iOS Settings, then double-click the iPhone side button to initiate a transaction. Apple's announcement describes those features and requirements.
The distinction is practical: Apple already describes a conditional API route for developers, while the reported CMA proposal could bring broader access requirements for rival wallets.
