Glossary
HCE / issuer wallet
Host Card Emulation: NFC payments from YOUR app instead of Apple/Google Pay - with iOS NFC access an EEA-only regulatory advantage since iOS 17.4.
HCE lets an app emulate a contactless card in software, so an issuer can offer tap-to-pay in its own wallet rather than surrendering the wallet relationship (and fees) to big tech. On Android it has been possible for years.
On iPhone it became possible only through EU competition law: under commitments in case AT.40452, iOS 17.4+ opens the NFC chip to third-party wallets - in the EEA only. European regulation created a European product edge; the catalogue flags providers that can deliver it.