Apple now faces antitrust scrutiny in Switzerland over how it controls access to the NFC chip inside the iPhone. Swiss regulators want to understand whether Apple’s rules limit fair competition in mobile payments. They are focusing on the terms developers must accept to use the NFC & SE Platform API.
Although Apple opened the NFC interface to third-party apps worldwide last year, Switzerland wants to assess whether the conditions attached to this access create barriers. The question is simple: can local payment apps compete with Apple Pay inside shops when Apple sets the rules and fees for using core hardware features.
As a result, the Swiss Competition Commission started gathering information from companies active in the payments market. Regulators also want to understand how much control Apple retains through its commercial agreements and fee structure.
Regulator Statement and Ongoing Investigation
According to the Swiss Competition Commission:
“The Secretariat opened a preliminary investigation to assess whether Apple is violating Swiss antitrust law.”
Earlier this year, regulators spoke with Apple about making the NFC interface available to Swiss developers. Consequently, Apple began offering access in late 2024 through the NFC & SE Platform. However, the terms Swiss developers receive differ from those offered in the European Economic Area, so officials want to verify whether those differences comply with national competition rules.
“It seeks to clarify whether other providers of mobile payment apps can effectively compete with Apple Pay for contactless payments with iOS devices in shops.”
In its announcement, the Secretariat explained that Apple historically blocked third parties from NFC access, even while such access remained open on Android devices. The European Union pushed Apple to change course in 2024, and Switzerland followed with its own discussions soon after.
Today, regulators focus on the commercial conditions behind Apple’s access program rather than the technical ability to use NFC. The investigation now moves forward as officials gather more data from industry players. The outcome will show whether Apple must revise its terms in Switzerland.
