Apple will launch its Apple Pay service in India next month. The move marks a significant entry into one of the few major global economies where the service is not yet available.
The initial rollout features a partnership with Axis Bank. Axis Bank currently serves as India's fourth-largest credit card issuer.
The service will support tap-to-pay purchases using tokenized credit card details stored on Apple devices. Apple is adopting a bank-by-bank strategy for the expansion.
The company remains in active discussions with other major lenders, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.
The launch follows a regulatory change by India's central bank last year to allow biometric authentication for card payments. This shift enables Apple to utilize Face ID and Touch ID for secure transactions.