NEXT Biometrics has secured its first order for the Oyster III biometric fingerprint reader in Malaysia, with the devices destined for use in Malaysian government departments for identity verification. The Norway-based company says deliveries are scheduled to begin shipping in Q1 2026.
The Oyster III reader uses NEXT’s Active Thermal technology, which combines finger heat detection and 3D imaging to deliver fast liveness detection while maintaining environmental robustness. The company also highlights lower energy consumption as a selling point for government deployments. NEXT says it has shipped more than 10 million sensors to date, with certifications including Aadhaar, FBI-PIV, MOSIP Compliance, and NIBSS.
“This new order shows the growing trust in NEXT Oyster III Reader in Government ID across use cases,” said Joshua Chiu, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales for South-East Asia at NEXT Biometrics.
The Malaysian order represents a new market entry for the Oyster III platform and signals continued momentum for NEXT in the Asia-Pacific government identity sector. The company has been expanding its regional footprint through a series of design wins tied to public-sector identity programs. The Malaysia engagement follows earlier milestones including an Indian contract for global fingerprint sensors that supported government programs and a FAP 30 Granite order from an Indian OEM targeting volume government deployments.
Government procurement of biometric readers carries heightened scrutiny around reliability, certification, and liveness detection capability. NEXT’s Active Thermal approach, which relies on thermal and 3D imaging rather than optical sensing alone, is positioned as well-suited to diverse environmental conditions common in government enrollment and verification settings. The Oyster III platform has also been integrated into identity access management workflows through an IAM partnership with Oyster III sensor integration announced in mid-2025.
NEXT has not disclosed the contract value or named the specific Malaysian government departments involved, describing the use cases broadly as “various identity verification purposes.” The company said it views the order as an entry point into a new segment in Malaysia.
Southeast Asia has become an increasingly active market for biometric identity infrastructure, driven by government digitization programs and the expansion of national identity systems across the region. A presence in Malaysian government departments could position NEXT for additional procurement opportunities as agencies expand their verification capabilities.
Sources: Oslo Bors NewsWeb
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By Ali Nassar-Smith
