Dealing with spam and fake calls is a daily hassle for many mobile phone users. Whether it's a telemarketing call, a scam attempt, or an annoying robocall, identifying the caller has become increasingly difficult. While third-party apps like Truecaller have tried to fill this gap, the indian government is stepping in with an official solution to this problem.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of india (TRAI) is rolling out a new system called Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) that will allow your phone to display the real, verified name of the caller directly on the screen. Here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming feature and how it will impact your calling experience.
1. What is CNAP (Calling Name Presentation)?
CNAP is a new system that will let your phone show the real name of the person calling, instead of just a number or a potential spam label. This system will be integrated with telecom networks, and the information will be verified by the telecom operators.
- Verified Caller Information: With CNAP, telecom companies will verify the caller’s details (such as the name, business, or organization) and display the verified name on your phone.
- No Need for Third-Party Apps: Unlike popular apps like Truecaller, CNAP will be part of the official telecom infrastructure, meaning it will be native to your phone without the need for any third-party apps.
2. Why Is CNAP Being Introduced?
The move to introduce CNAP comes as a response to the growing issue of spam and fraudulent calls in India. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between genuine calls and unsolicited marketing calls.
- Spam and Scam Reduction: CNAP aims to combat the rise of fraudulent calls by showing the real identity of the caller, helping users avoid scams, and making it easier to identify legitimate contacts.
- Better User Experience: The new system will enhance the overall user experience by providing more transparency during incoming calls, and reducing the reliance on third-party apps for caller identification.
3. How Will CNAP Work?
- Caller Information Verification: When a user receives a call, the system will pull the verified caller’s name from the telecom operator’s database. The telecom companies will be responsible for verifying and storing the data, ensuring that only legitimate information is displayed.
- Display on Incoming Calls: Once a caller’s details are verified by the telecom network, their real name or business name will be displayed on your screen instead of an unknown number or a spam label.
- Implementation by Telecom Operators: Major telecom companies, including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and others, will have to adopt this system, making it a universal solution across all mobile networks in India.
4. How Will CNAP Impact Your mobile Experience?
No More Unknown Numbers
Gone will be the days when you see unknown or suspicious numbers calling you, only to hang up or avoid answering. With CNAP, you’ll know who’s calling, and whether it’s a legitimate number or not.
Spam Calls Identification
While Truecaller and other third-party apps try to block spam, CNAP will integrate this functionality directly into the phone system itself, making it a more seamless and reliable method of filtering out spam calls.
Business or Personal Identification
For businesses, CNAP will help improve trust with their customers by displaying the business name instead of a generic number. This will also help customers easily identify customer support, banks, and official service numbers.
5. What Will Be the Benefits of CNAP?
- Enhanced Security: The introduction of CNAP could make a significant dent in the security risks posed by scammers and fraudsters. Knowing the identity of the caller will help users avoid scams like phishing, identity theft, and other fraudulent schemes.
- Reduced reliance on Third-Party Apps: With CNAP, you won’t need to rely on apps like Truecaller, which have faced issues with privacy concerns and inaccurate information. Instead, telecom operators will handle the verification, ensuring more accurate results.
- Better Trust for Businesses: Legitimate businesses and organizations will benefit from this system, as customers will be able to see their names instead of generic or unknown numbers, which could increase customer trust.
6. When Will CNAP Be Available?
- Rollout Timeline: CNAP is expected to roll out in phases across India. While there’s no specific date set yet, TRAI aims to complete the implementation by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The rollout will likely start with telecom providers like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea before expanding to all users across the country.
- Initial Testing: There may be a beta phase in select regions before the system is implemented nationwide. During this time, users will get to see the real names of callers in certain areas.
7. Will CNAP Affect My Privacy?
A common concern with any new system that involves personal data is whether it will compromise privacy. In the case of CNAP, privacy is expected to be a major consideration.
- Data Protection: Telecom providers will ensure that caller information is only used for the purpose of verifying identities and won’t be shared with third parties unnecessarily. The data protection policies will be regulated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of india (TRAI) to ensure that users’ personal details remain secure.
- Opt-out Option: Users may have the option to opt-out from having their names displayed via CNAP if they don’t want to share their information. This opt-out could be managed through telecom settings on the user’s phone.
8. Conclusion: A Game-Changer for indian Telecom Users
With the introduction of CNAP, india is set to tackle the growing problem of spam calls and fraudulent activity head-on. The ability to see the real, verified name of the caller will bring a much-needed level of transparency to your phone’s incoming calls, reduce the need for third-party apps like Truecaller, and improve overall security.
As the implementation begins to roll out over the next year or so, we can expect a significant reduction in scam calls, greater trust for businesses, and an overall better experience for mobile phone users in India. Stay tuned for more updates from TRAI on this groundbreaking development.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk..jpg)
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