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What Is the CNAP System and How It Works

Under the TRAI mandates caller name regulation, each telecom service provider (TSP) — like Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL — will be required to display the registered name of the caller on the recipient’s phone screen. This name will be the same one provided during the SIM registration process, ensuring government-verified identity for every call.

In simple terms, it’s a government-backed version of Truecaller — but integrated directly at the network level. The system will use telecom databases (CNAMs) to fetch the caller’s registered name when a call is made, and display it on the recipient’s device before the call is answered.

Key Features of TRAI’s Caller Name Mandate

The TRAI mandates caller name feature introduces several key changes for both consumers and telecom operators:

• Verified Caller Identification: The displayed name will match the one provided during SIM KYC registration.

• Default Activation: CNAP will be enabled automatically for all mobile users on 4G and advanced networks.

• User Opt-Out: Subscribers who don’t want their name displayed can opt out by contacting their telecom provider.

• Fraud and Spam Prevention: Aims to combat scams, spam calls, and identity misuse by ensuring verified caller names.

• Privacy Protection: Users with Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) will remain exempt.

• Network Limitation: Implementation may be difficult on 2G and 3G due to bandwidth constraints.

Why TRAI Introduced the Caller Name Rule

According to TRAI, the caller name presentation mandate addresses a growing issue — fraudulent calls and impersonation scams. With voice phishing, fake customer care calls, and spam calls on the rise, CNAP will add a crucial layer of identity verification to telecom networks.

Similar systems already exist in countries like South Korea and the United States, where verified name displays have drastically reduced phone-based fraud. By using KYC data already available with telecom providers, India’s CNAP system aims to create a trusted digital calling ecosystem.

How TRAI’s Caller Name Feature Differs from Truecaller

While Truecaller and similar apps rely on crowdsourced data and voluntary uploads, TRAI’s CNAP is directly backed by telecom providers and uses verified KYC data.

Here’s how the difference plays out:

• Truecaller: Depends on users uploading names, often inaccurate or outdated.

• TRAI CNAP: Fetches the registered SIM owner’s name directly from telecom databases.

• Truecaller: Works through third-party apps.

• TRAI CNAP: Integrated at the network level, requiring no external app.

This also means that the displayed name will be legally verified, not just what someone else saved or shared on an app.

Implementation Timeline and Telecom Readiness

According to the official statement, TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have jointly agreed that CNAP will be enabled by default for all 4G and 5G subscribers.

However, the rollout will be gradual due to infrastructure and device compatibility requirements. Operators need to build and maintain a Calling Name Database (CNAM) linking every number to a registered identity.

TRAI and DoT have proposed a six-month implementation window from the date of formal notification, giving time for telecoms to upgrade systems and manufacturers to ensure compatibility on all Indian-sold smartphones.