CNAP Trial Successful: In a major breakthrough towards fighting phone fraud and enhancing caller transparency, a new system will soon be introduced in India, which will make it more difficult for fraudsters to conduct business with false numbers.

Referenced as the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature, this capability will enable mobile users to view the calling party’s name and phone number upon receiving a call, even if the phone number is not in their contact list.

Sources report that CNAP’s trial has been successfully conducted, which will lead the way for potential nationwide implementation. The action is likely to be a key in addressing the rising volume of scam and spam calls, a number of which come from masked or spoofed caller IDs.

After the introduction of CNAP, callers with the use of forged names or numbers will be much more difficult to fake out recipients, as the name registered by them will come up on the screen of the receiver automatically.

Though the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is said to be going ahead with plans to launch the facility, BSNL sought a three-month grace period to introduce the system in its network.

Although a formal announcement is yet to come, sources indicate that an official order for implementation may be made in the near future.

What is CNAP?

CNAP, also known as Calling Name Presentation, is a caller identification service proposed by TRAI to display the name of the caller on the recipient’s phone screen during an incoming call. 

Unlike third-party apps, which rely on crowd-sourced data that may not always be accurate, CNAP leverages verified information provided by subscribers during their Know Your Customer (KYC) process. 

This data, generally submitted via the Customer Application Form (CAF) when obtaining a SIM card, ensures that the caller’s identity is tied to official records, making it a more reliable solution.

Key Features of CNAP:

1. Introduction of CNAP: CNAP supplementary service will be introduced in the Indian telecom network.
2. Redefining CLI: Calling Line Identification (CLI) will be redefined to include the calling/original customer’s identity.
3. Provision of CNAP Service: All access service providers will provide CNAP service to their customers upon request.
4. Use of Name Identification Information: The name identification information provided by the customer will be used for CNAP purposes.
5. Technical Model: A technical model for implementing CNAP in the Indian telecom network has been described.

Benefits:

• Helps curb spam calls and telecom fraud
• Enables customers to identify the caller and decide whether to answer the call
• Allows bulk connection customers (e.g., banks) to have a common name for all connections
• Requires customers to provide necessary documents for verification

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had sent its recommendations to the government on February 23. The government is expected to issue directions to implement CNAP, which will be a significant step in enhancing telecom security and customer experience.

Also Read: SBI Card, PhonePe launch co-branded credit card