New Delhi: Mobile phone users in India will now be able to identify callers even when their numbers are not saved in their contact lists. The Central Government is rolling out the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service nationwide from November 1, allowing the registered name of a caller to appear on the recipient’s phone screen. The name displayed will be the one recorded in the identity documents submitted when the caller obtained the SIM card. The service is initially being introduced on 4G and 5G networks.
Users will not have to install any separate application or change their phone settings to access the facility. Telecom operators will make the service available automatically through their networks. Several telecom companies have already begun implementing the system. Under the new system, calls from numbers saved in a user’s contacts will continue to display the names already assigned to those contacts. However, when a call comes from an unfamiliar number, the name linked to the caller’s SIM registration will be displayed on the screen. This is expected to help users identify unknown callers before answering their calls.
The service is designed to provide a network-based caller identification facility without requiring users to depend entirely on third-party caller ID applications. The new system also provides a separate facility for business connections. Instead of displaying only the officially registered name, eligible businesses will be able to display their registered trade name or an approved preferred business name.
A facility to submit the preferred name while applying for a new business connection has also been introduced. The primary objective of CNAP is to make caller identification easier and improve transparency in telephone communications. By displaying the name associated with an incoming number, the system is expected to help users distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar callers. The nationwide rollout marks another step in India’s efforts to strengthen telecom services and provide users with better information about incoming calls.
