Swiss Competition Authority Probes Apple’s NFC Access Terms on iPhones

Key Takeaways

• Swiss Antitrust Scrutiny Begins: Switzerland’s competition authority has opened a preliminary investigation into Apple’s terms for granting NFC access on iOS devices, focusing on potential competition law concerns.
• Focus on Mobile Payments Competition: The inquiry will assess whether third-party mobile payment providers can effectively compete with Apple Pay for contactless payments on iPhones.
• NFC Access Remains Conditional: While Swiss app providers gained access to Apple’s NFC and secure element platform in late 2024, that access is governed by Apple’s own terms and conditions.
• Divergence from EU Rules: Swiss regulators are examining whether Apple’s Swiss access conditions differ materially from those applied in the EU under legally binding commitments accepted by the European Commission.
• Early-Stages: The investigation remains preliminary, with COMCO continuing to gather market input before deciding whether to launch formal proceedings.

Deep Dive

Swiss competition authorities have opened an investigation into Apple’s control over near-field communication technology on iPhones, examining whether the company’s terms for granting access to the NFC interface raise concerns under Swiss antitrust law.

The Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) confirmed on Thursday that it launched the inquiry on 10 December 2025. The review will focus on whether Apple’s conditions for allowing third-party access to its NFC and secure element platform could restrict effective competition, particularly in the market for mobile payment apps.

At the center of the investigation is the question of whether payment providers other than Apple Pay can realistically compete for in-store contactless payments on iOS devices. Apple grants third parties access to the NFC interface exclusively through its NFC and secure element platform, and only under terms set by the company.

Apple’s iPhones operate on its proprietary iOS operating system, giving the company full control over the ecosystem, including access to NFC technology. NFC enables short-range wireless data exchange and underpins services such as contactless payments and digital wallets.

For years, Apple blocked third-party access to the NFC interface on iOS devices, a policy that stood in contrast to Android devices, where such access has long been available. That position began to shift in 2024 following regulatory pressure in the European Union. In July of that year, the European Commission accepted commitments from Apple to provide free access to the NFC interface on iOS devices and made those commitments legally binding under EU competition law.

Swiss authorities say they have been in discussions with Apple since early 2024 to ensure similar access for Swiss app developers. As a result of those talks, Apple began granting Swiss third-party providers access to the NFC and secure element platform in late 2024.

The current inquiry will assess whether the terms and conditions governing that access comply with Swiss competition rules. According to COMCO, those terms differ from the framework applied in the European Economic Area, raising questions about whether they could disadvantage non-Apple payment providers in the Swiss market.

The Secretariat emphasized that the investigation is still at a preliminary stage and that it is continuing to gather information and market feedback before determining whether formal proceedings are warranted.

The move places Switzerland alongside a growing list of jurisdictions scrutinizing Apple’s control over core mobile technologies, particularly where access conditions may influence competition in payments and digital services.

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