Caller name display: When a mobile phone rings and an unknown number flashes on the screen, a question often arises in the mind as to who is the caller on the other end. This dilemma of crores of mobile users of the country is going to be resolved in the coming days. After the government’s notification, now when a call comes in, the real name of the caller along with the number will also appear on the mobile screen. For this, telecom companies have completed successful trials on their networks. An official circular issued on October 13 instructed that this new system be mandatorily implemented in all telecom service areas of the country.

The main objective of this move by the government is to help people identify unknown callers properly. It also seeks to mitigate the growing concerns about online fraud. Although this system does not claim to completely stop spam calls, it will now be easier for normal users to check the other person before picking up the call.

This new technology will work on mobile without any app

Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) is a telecom service that displays the name associated with that number on the phone screen when an incoming call is received. According to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) instructions, when a call comes in, the telephone number of the caller will continue to appear as before, but along with it, the name of the caller will also appear in a separate section. Most importantly, normal mobile users will not need to do anything on their part to get this feature. For this you neither need to provide any separate application to your telecom operator nor you need to download any separate application in the phone.

The name displayed on the screen will be taken from the caller’s subscriber data record with the telecom company. In simple words, the name with which the customer has registered his connection while getting the SIM card will appear on the screen of the call receiver.

If you have already saved the caller’s number in your phone’s contact list, the name you saved will appear prominently on the screen. At the same time, if a call comes from within the country from a number not saved in your phone, the name registered in the telecom operator’s database will appear with the number. Apart from this, if a call comes from abroad and that number is not saved in your phone, ‘International Call’ will be clearly written on the screen.

Special rules have been set for business connections

Apart from general customers, the Department of Telecom has also made separate provisions for those companies or business organizations that use multiple connections simultaneously i.e. bulk connections. Many times companies want that when a customer calls from their number, their preferred company name should appear on the screen instead of the individual name. Under the new rules, eligible bulk subscribers are allowed to show their verified preferred name.

However, there are strict conditions for this. Any business concern can choose only the preferred name which is the trademark registered in its name in the records of the Trade Marks Registry. Apart from this, a registered trade name can also be used on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal. The telecom company initiating the call has to check all the documents before approving this name.

While taking new connections, telecom operators have to enter this name in the subscriber data record along with the customer application form. At the same time, telecom companies have to make special arrangements for already running connections. Through this, existing business users will be able to apply to register their preferred name in the data records. The telecom company will verify the application and documents, after which the company name will be updated in the data records.

It is not necessary to see the name of every caller, these people will be exempted

Even after the implementation of this new rule, there will be some situations where the caller’s name will not appear on the phone screen. In a Department of Telecommunication circular, customers who have availed the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility under the existing guidelines have been exempted from this rule. Users who have taken advantage of this feature to keep their identity confidential as per the rules, their names will not be displayed on the screen as part of the CNAP service.

Apart from this, this new rule is not being implemented simultaneously on all types of telephone networks in the country. The first phase, beginning November 1, 2026, covers only those wireless networks that operate on 4G or beyond technology. The Department of Telecommunications has clarified that no decision has been taken yet to launch this service on wireless networks with 2G or 3G technology. Similarly, the issue of fixed-line telephone service i.e. landline network will also be examined separately, after which it will be considered. That means currently no date has been fixed for 2G, 3G or landline network.

Strict data security arrangements

Telecom operators have been ordered to put in place strict technical arrangements to protect mobile users’ information. For this, companies have to adopt a ‘security-by-design’ approach. Under this, the system of prompting and displaying the name when a call is received should be such that the identity of the caller’s name cannot be stored after the call ends. Additionally, operators also have to ensure that their database and network have sufficient capacity to display the caller’s name on the screen instantly without any delay. If a user sees his wrong name on the screen, all telecom companies have to create a grievance redressal mechanism to resolve it. Companies have to resolve such complaints within the stipulated time frame.

Spam calls or online scams will be completely eliminated

The most important question is whether this rule will completely eliminate spam calls or online fraud. The Department of Telecommunications has clarified that this service is only to make it easier to identify unknown numbers, so that the user can make a decision before picking up the call. Just because someone’s name appears on the screen does not prove that the caller is completely trustworthy or genuine. Fraudsters may adopt insidious methods to deceive people. Therefore, this should not be taken as a guarantee to end spam calls, misuse of someone else’s name or financial fraud. Mobile users have to be careful as before. If a caller asks for one-time password (OTP), bank account information or money transfer over the phone, users have to be alert even if the name is visible on the screen.