Switzerland Launches Antitrust Probe Targeting Apple's iPhone NFC Exclusivity

Switzerland has officially joined the global regulatory siege on Apple’s "walled garden," aiming its sights specifically at the iPhone's locked-down Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. The country’s Competition Commission (COMCO) announced an investigation on December 12, 2025, probing whether Apple’s refusal to unlock its payment hardware for third-party rivals constitutes an illegal abuse of dominance.

While the European Union has already forced concessions from Cupertino regarding mobile payments, Switzerland—not an EU member—is now signaling that borders won't stop the scrutiny of Big Tech’s restrictive practices.

Scrutiny on Mobile Payment Dominance

At issue is Apple’s rigid control over the iPhone's NFC antenna. This hardware is essential for "tap to pay" transactions, yet Apple restricts direct access exclusively to Apple Pay. While competitors can use the chip for passive tasks like reading tags, they remain shut out from executing secure, contactless payments at checkout terminals.

This effectively forces iPhone users—a massive demographic in a country where iOS holds approximately 45% market share—into a single ecosystem for contactless transactions. COMCO’s inquiry suggests this stranglehold suppresses innovation and limits consumer choice.

The potential fallout for Apple is substantial. If the tech giant is found to have violated the Swiss Cartel Act, financial penalties could climb to 10% of its local revenue. With Apple's annual Swiss earnings estimated between CHF 10 and 12 billion, a maximum fine could theoretically hit the CHF 1 billion mark.

Industry Reaction and Market Context

The investigation validates long-standing grievances from local competitors, chiefly the ubiquitous payment app Twint. Boasting 4 million active users—a staggering penetration rate in a country of roughly 9 million—Twint has nevertheless been forced to rely on QR codes for iPhone transactions. This method is widely regarded as clunkier and slower than the seamless NFC "tap" reserved for Apple Pay.

"We welcome the probe as it promotes fair competition in digital payments," stated Swisscom, a major telecom provider and Twint partner.

Apple, predictably, is leaning on its standard defense: security. In a statement to Reuters, the company argued its closed architecture is designed to protect user privacy. "We are committed to providing safe and secure payment options for our users and will cooperate fully with COMCO," Apple said, noting it has addressed similar concerns in other markets.

However, the disparity in the market is glaring. While NFC payments in Switzerland surged by 22% year-over-year in 2025, Apple Pay captured 35% of that volume. This dominance is partly fueled by a lack of friction that rivals cannot replicate on iOS, whereas Google grants Android developers full access to NFC host card emulation—a benchmark regulators increasingly use to highlight Apple’s restrictiveness.

Echoes of European Regulation

Although Switzerland operates outside the jurisdiction of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the timing of this probe is hardly coincidental. It suggests a domino effect is underway. Earlier this year, Apple agreed to open NFC access across the EU to settle a similar antitrust investigation. By launching its own probe under national law, Switzerland is effectively telling Silicon Valley that EU concessions might inevitably become the baseline expectation for neighboring economies, regardless of bloc membership.

COMCO indicated the investigation will scrutinize Apple's conduct dating back to 2016. A preliminary phase is expected to last 6 to 12 months, with the full inquiry potentially stretching over two years. TechCrunch reports that Apple has until January 2026 to submit its initial response. If the Swiss regulator follows Brussels' lead, Apple may soon be forced to deploy "NFC Entitlement" APIs for Swiss developers, fundamentally dismantling its exclusive grip on how the Swiss pay with their iPhones.