In a fresh move seeking to tackle pesky calls and control frauds through mobile phones, telecom regulator
Trai
has recommended that names of callers should be displayed in incoming calls. And, details of the caller can be fetched from Customer Application Form (CAF), Trai said, as it recommended the measure to the department of telecom (DotT.
What is the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Supplementary Service
CNAP is a supplementary service that enables the caller’s name to flash on phone screens when someone calls. It is recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to be introduced in the Indian telecommunication network.
How is CNAP expected to help
The introduction of CNAP is expected to curb spam calls
What is the source of the caller’s name in CNAP
The name identity information provided by the telephone subscriber in the Customer Application Form (CAF) should be used for the purpose of the service.
What is the ‘preferred name’ in CNAP
The ‘preferred name’ could be the ‘trademark name’ registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, or the ‘trade name’ registered with the GST Council, or any other unique name duly registered with the government. This is contingent on the subscriber entity’s ability to present the necessary documents to prove the ownership of such name.
How does CNAP compare to other caller identification services
While native smartphone tools and third-party apps like Truecaller and Bharat Caller ID & Anti-Spam also provide calling party name identification and spam identification facilities, these services are based on crowd-sourced data, which may not be reliable.
What is the process followed by Trai for the introduction of CNAP
Trai issued a consultation paper seeking stakeholders, public, and the industry’s comments on the service. Based on the comments/inputs received from stakeholders and on its own analysis, TRAI has finalized its recommendations on ‘Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service in Indian Telecommunication Network’.
What is the stance of industry body COAI on the implementation of CNAP
COAI, whose prominent members include Reliance Jio, Bharti
Airtel
, and Vodafone Idea, had earlier contended that the implementation of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) should not be made mandatory but kept optional for telecom operators. The telecom industry body had flagged technical, privacy and cost-related concerns with regulator Trai to argue its point, in early 2023.
How has Truecaller responded to the introduction of CNAP
Truecaller has welcomed “all efforts in the mission to make communication safe and efficient in the interest of Indian consumers” and extended support to Trai. "We believe that the current TRAI recommendations can even be a driving catalyst for our continued growth in India, as more people discover our offerings. We stay committed to our mission of making digital communication safe for Indians through our product and partnership with Indian government agencies," Truecaller said. Given its technology and AI capabilities, Truecaller said its offering goes beyond just providing a basic number identification service.
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