The EU’s Digital Markets Act has forced Apple to abandon its proprietary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi protocol, AWDL, in favor of the open Wi-Fi Aware (NAN) standard. This means iOS 19 and beyond will support cross-platform direct communication, previously limited to Apple-only features like AirDrop and AirPlay. AWDL was known for high performance and seamless coexistence with infrastructure Wi-Fi, but it was closed and unavailable to non-Apple platforms. Wi-Fi Aware, already supported on Android, offers similar capabilities but is industry-standard and interoperable. The EU mandates Apple implement Wi-Fi Aware 4.0 by iOS 19, and 5.0 within nine months of its publication. It also requires parity in functionality between AWDL and Wi-Fi Aware until AWDL is fully deprecated. Apple is not allowed to throttle or hinder performance on the standard. This marks a significant regulatory push against Apple’s closed ecosystem. Developers and users benefit from enhanced cross-device connectivity. Ultimately, this move signals a shift toward open, interoperable wireless communication across mobile platforms.
here is a great explanation
Ditto - Cross-Platform P2P Wi-Fi: How the EU Killed AWDL
and from the WWDC25 conference
Supercharge device connectivity with Wi-Fi Aware - WWDC25 - Videos - Apple Developer
