TRAI recommends mobile network operators to implement CNAP to address spam, fraudulent, robocalls

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had sought TRAI's views on introducing the CNAP facility in March 2022.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended that mobile network operators implement a service on mobile phones called Calling Name Presentation (CNAP). This service will display the caller's identity based on the registration data submitted during the KYC process. The CNAP service is intended to address the issue of high volumes of robocalls, spam, and fraudulent calls, which can lead to unanswered genuine calls. TRAI's consultation paper on CNAP was released in November 2022.

TRAI's recommendation is to:

• Implement the Calling Name Display Service on mobile phones
• Mandate smartphone makers to enable this feature within a stipulated time
• Enable the feature by making a query to the central subscriber database of provider from where the call originated
• Allow subscriber entities holding bulk connections and business connections to present their "preferred name" in place of the name appearing in the Customer Application Form (CAF).

TRAI has recommended that all access service providers offer the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) supplementary service to their telephone subscribers upon request. TRAI has further suggested that subscribers holding bulk connections and business connections should be able to present their 'preferred name' instead of the name mentioned in their Customer Application Form (CAF). This information was shared in a recent TRAI release.

The regulator has released recommendations regarding the implementation of the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service in the Indian telecommunication network. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had sought TRAI's views on introducing the CNAP facility in March 2022. These recommendations provide a comprehensive framework for the introduction of CNAP in the Indian telecommunication network.