India's Official Caller ID System: How CNAP Will Display Verified Caller Names Without Internet

Have you ever wanted your phone to identify callers without requiring Truecaller or internet connectivity? India is preparing to introduce its official caller ID system that will display the registered name of any caller on your screen as soon as your phone rings.

This service, known as Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), has received approval from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It will display the caller's verified name directly from telecom company records.

CNAP functions by automatically showing the authentic name of callers as registered during their SIM verification process with telecom operators. Being government-backed and based on verified information, the caller identification will be genuine and reliable, effectively serving as a built-in caller ID system.

Once implemented, your device will begin displaying caller names automatically. Users concerned about privacy can opt out of this service by contacting their telecom service provider.

According to TRAI, "The measure will allow the called party to make an informed choice about whether to answer the call."

This innovation will help users protect themselves against potential scams and fraudulent calls. Telecom operators will be required to establish a Calling Name (CNAM) database that connects each phone number with the verified identity of its owner.

Before giving final approval, the DoT conducted pilot testing of the CNAP feature in selected cities across 4G and 5G networks.

During these tests, officials identified several technical challenges, including the need for software updates and network infrastructure improvements to ensure smooth implementation.

While the government hasn't announced a specific launch date for the CNAP service yet, telecom operators are expected to begin backend preparations soon.

These preparations will include creating databases that link verified subscriber identities to their phone numbers and upgrading network systems to support this new feature.