The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced plans to introduce new regulations aimed at tightening oversight of the mobile phone market, citing the overwhelming dominance of Apple and Google.
The regulator is currently investigating the operations of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems to determine whether the two tech giants are complying with the country’s new digital market rules. These rules are designed to protect consumers and businesses from unfair practices and anti-competitive behavior.
According to the CMA, Apple and Google control between 90% and 100% of the UK mobile operating system market, effectively giving them a near-monopoly over the country’s smartphone ecosystem.
The investigation has raised concerns about several issues, including unpredictable app review processes, biased app ranking systems, and excessive commission fees reportedly as high as 30% on payments made through apps distributed via their platforms.
In response, the CMA said it plans to clarify how applications are approved and managed on these operating systems and may establish new frameworks allowing developers to process payments without relying solely on Apple or Google’s payment systems.
Both companies have pushed back against the proposed measures, arguing that their systems are designed to ensure user safety, privacy, and reliability.
If implemented, the new guidelines could mark a major shift in how mobile ecosystems operate in the UK potentially giving app developers and consumers more freedom and transparency in how they access and use mobile services.
