Apple faces UK crackdown over iPhone contactless payments

Apple could be forced to slash the fees it charges rival payment providers and loosen its grip on iPhone contactless technology under new proposals unveiled by Britain’s competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday that Apple’s high fees and restrictive terms were stifling competition, preventing businesses from developing alternatives to Apple Pay. The watchdog has proposed requiring the US tech giant to open up its near-field communication (NFC) technology, which enables contactless payments, on fairer commercial terms. It expects access charges to fall substantially, although it stopped short of proposing a fixed price. We have heard that high fees, strict terms, and technical restrictions relating to Apple’s contactless technology make it too difficult for challengers to innovate and compete , said CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell. By removing barriers to entry, we can help create the conditions for brilliant British businesses