TRAI has directed telecom companies to implement Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) feature to control spam calls. This feature will show the verified name of the caller on the screen. Implementing it may be challenging due to technical limitations on 2G networks.
TRAI is making several changes in the calling system to control spam calls. Telecom companies are also included in this series. This includes the names of Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea. The companies are going to launch a new Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) feature. Through this feature, users will be able to see the name of the caller without third-party apps like Truecaller. Telecom companies have partnered with companies like HP, Dell, Ericsson and Nokia to implement the necessary services and software.
What is CNAP?
CNAP is a supplementary service that will display the verified name of the caller on the call receiver’s screen to improve caller identification. It will not rely on crowd-sourced data from third-party apps but will use the name recorded in the user’s KYC (Know You Customer) document.
DoT plans to implement CNAP
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended the implementation of CNAP in February 2024. This service will be launched in a line to prevent spam calls and improve user experience. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed telecom companies to implement this service soon. The main objective of the CNAP service is to stop spam and fraudulent calls, allowing users to identify the caller in advance. However, according to some reports, telecom companies said that it is not possible to implement this service due to technical limitations on 2G networks.
Other measures to curb spam calls
TRAI had made CNAP mandatory in 2022 and asked smartphone makers to consider this service. Experts had raised the question that this could violate the privacy of the caller. Challenges like disagreement from the users can also arise. Apart from this, DoT has directed telecom companies to label non-+91 numbers as international numbers to prevent fraudulent calls coming from abroad. Airtel has already implemented this feature. Airtel, BSNL and Vodafone Idea have already implemented AI-based network intelligence solutions to prevent spam calls and fake SMS so that customers can be protected from these frauds. There was a discussion going on about this feature for a long time.
