Update: UK Competition Regulator Wants Apple to Remove Barriers to Mobile Contactless Technology

09:10 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with Apple's statement) The UK's competition regulator is proposing that Apple (APC.F) remove technical barriers and lower fees for local businesses seeking access to its near-field communication technology, which enables mobile contactless payments. Apple's fees and access rules hinder businesses' ability to grow, the Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday. The proposals aim to give UK companies "a genuine opportunity to compete with existing wallets." It noted that, unlike in the European Union, no company has launched a wallet-type product to compete with Apple's app in the UK. The regulator's consultation on the proposals will close on Nov. 17, after which it will take a final decision. "We do not believe the CMA should require Apple to adopt an approach with lower privacy and security protections. We will continue to engage constructively to reach an outcome that is in the best interest of our users," a spokesperson for Apple told MT Newswires.