Apple is poised to launch Apple Pay in India next month with Axis Bank’s credit cards, three sources ​familiar with the matter said, as it works to expand support ‌among the country’s lenders.

The launch, starting with a single major banking partner, would help the US company offer its payment service in the world’s most populous country, one of the ​few major economies where it is not available.

Mumbai-based Axis Bank is the ​fourth-largest credit card issuer in India.

Apple Pay has also been ⁠in discussions with Axis Bank’s larger private sector rivals HDFC Bank and ICICI ​Bank, but they are yet to agree on commercial terms, two of the sources ​said.

All three sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the talks are private. Apple and HDFC did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. ICICI and Axis said no ​comment when contacted by Reuters.

Apple Pay allows iPhone users to make tap-and-pay ​purchases using tokenised card details stored in their devices, without opening a separate payments app.

Apple ‌plans to ⁠add lenders over time through direct, bank-by-bank deals, mirroring phased rollouts in other markets, said one of the three sources.

Apple’s share of India’s smartphone market has doubled to 8 percent since 2022, according to Counterpoint Research, establishing it as ​one of its largest ​markets.

Apple Pay will ⁠join a crowded digital payments market.

Payments via the homegrown Unified Payments Interface, which allows transfers via QR codes, phone ​numbers, and tap and pay, dominate the market, making up 84 percent ​of India’s ⁠digital payments volume.

Last year, the Reserve Bank of India allowed biometric authentication for card payments, enabling Apple’s payment service to work with Indian bank cards using Face ⁠ID ​and Touch ID.

Axis Bank, with 16.26 million active ​credit cards in July, trails HDFC Bank, SBI Cards and ICICI Bank in terms of issuance, according ​to RBI data.