The European Commission (EC) has ordered Apple to open up its iOS connectivity ecosystem to third parties in European Union (EU) countries. This is to ensure that Apple complies with the Digital Market Act (DMA) which comes into force in 2023 to ensure that European users get equal access even if they do not own Apple products.
Under this order, access to exclusive systems such as AirDrop, AirPlay, fast audio accessory tethering, Apple Watch-like connection processes, WiFi password sharing, and more must be opened up to third-party manufacturers. Also included in this order is providing access to the NFC system for banking card transactions which has been limited to Apple Pay only. Finally, access to the full notification system must also be opened up.
The EC has given a timeline for iOS notification support in Beta version by the end of 2024 and full support in 2026. Access to AirPlay should be done by the end of 2026. The EC has previously succeeded in forcing Apple to offer a third-party app store only in Europe to comply with the DMA.