Telecom operators are reportedly testing caller ID services in these areas

Telecom operators in India have reportedly started limited trials of caller ID services in select regions in the country. The telcos are under pressure from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecom (DoT) to implement the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature, which is expected to help curb fake and scam calls in the country. If the feature is eventually implemented by these operators, customers in India may no longer have to rely on third-party caller ID apps.

CNAP testing begins in two regions of India

A report from the Times of India (through The Economic Times) reports that telecom operators in India have started testing the CNAP caller ID display service. The TRAI had earlier sought to implement CNAP on all mobile phones in the country, a move that had received some resistance from the telcos.

These “limited tests” of the new CNAP service are currently being conducted in Mumbai and Haryana, the report said. It is currently unclear which telecom operators are testing the system in these areas.

Both Airtel and Reliance Jio have warned against the implementation of CNAP in India, with the former telling the publication of potential “techno-commercial challenges” regarding the introduction of CNAP, along with the need to comply with privacy laws. Meanwhile, Jio reportedly warned of issues such as and “increased load on signaling and possible impact on latency and interconnection related issues.”

CNAP Caller ID: How it Works

When the CNAP caller ID service is enabled, a user’s mobile phone will display the caller’s phone number and full name, collected by the telco through the customer request form (CAF) and verified during the know your customer (KYC) process. The system is expected to help reduce the rise of unwanted spam and scam calls in the country.

The TRAI has proposed implementation of the proposed CNAP system in India
Photo Credit: TRAI

The TRAI had earlier recommended that telecom operators maintain a list of customer names and phone numbers that enable the use of the service, in a report published in February. However, the proposal has faced some opposition from telecom operators including Airtel, Vi and Reliance Jio.

One of the concerns regarding the implementation of CNAP on all mobile phones is the ability of handset manufacturers and software vendors to collect caller information on a large scale. Operators such as Airtel and Reliance Jio have also proposed that customers be allowed to opt-in to the CNAP service, while it will be made mandatory for commercial and telemarketing numbers.