March 6, 2025 - NEXT Biometrics, the leader in advanced high-security
fingerprint sensor technology, has received notification that its partner Access
Computech Pvt. Ltd. (ACPL) has passed the upgraded anti-spoofing tests, which
will end the shipment pause that was announced on 16 January 2025.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) decided to temporarily
pause the enrollment of all new L1 devices as a security precaution in late 2024
because of a security incident at one competitor's Aadhaar integration. The
UIDAI implemented new stringent liveness detection and anti-spoofing guidelines
and testing procedures as part of its Aadhaar's biometric specifications. The
testing has involved spoofing attempts using multiple different types of
material and spoofing methods. Till now only three OEMs have been able to pass
this test. NEXT's partner ACPL has now passed all the relevant tests.
Consequently, NEXT's India shipments will resume, and shipments are as
communicated earlier expected to be normalized during Q1 and Q2 2025.
Ulf Ritsvall, Chief Executive Officer at NEXT, commented:
"I am very pleased to receive this confirmation from our partner ACPL. Our team
is eager to resume business as usual in India. Once again, I want to emphasize
that the security incident leading to additional tests and the temporary pause
in the use of L1 sensors relates to a competing technology-one that does not
apply to our Active Thermal® technology. As expected, NEXT's FAP 20 sensor has
delivered outstanding results in the tests. I strongly believe that UIDAI's
decision to strengthen the entry barriers to Aadhaar will ultimately benefit
NEXT in the long run. Our NEXT Active Thermal® sensor technology already
surpassed competing solutions, particularly in detecting liveness in
fingerprints. As fewer players meet the stringent L1 certification requirements,
I anticipate that NEXT will further solidify its market position and expand its
share in India."
This information in this stock exchange announcement is considered to be inside
information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is published in
accordance with section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
For more information, please contact:
Ulf Ritsvall
Chief Executive Officer, NEXT
ulf.ritsvall@nextbiometrics.com
Eirik Underthun
Chief Financial Officer, NEXT
eirik.underthun@nextbiometrics.com
About NEXT Biometrics
NEXT provides advanced fingerprint sensor technology that delivers uncompromised
security and accuracy for the best possible user experience in the payment and
fintech, government ID, access control and office and notebook markets. The
company's patented NEXT Active Thermal ® principle allows the development of
large, high-quality fingerprint sensors with superior security level. NEXT
Biometrics Group ASA is headquartered in Oslo, with sales, support, and
development operations in Seattle, Taipei, Tokyo, New Delhi and Shanghai.
This stock exchange announcement was published by Eirik Underthun, CFO at NEXT
Biometrics Group ASA, on 6 March 2025, at 08:30 hours (CET).