The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has put forward a crucial recommendation to address the issue of unwanted calls, including robocalls, spam, and fraudulent calls.
Here’s what you need to know about TRAI’s proposal for Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service:
Purpose of CNAP Service:
The CNAP service aims to display caller identity on mobile phones based on registration data submitted by callers.
This initiative seeks to mitigate the inconvenience caused by a large volume of unsolicited calls, ensuring that genuine calls are not overlooked.
Key Recommendations by TRAI:
- Implementation of CNAP Service: TRAI advises mobile network operators to deploy the Calling Name Display Service on mobile phones.
- Directive to Smartphone Manufacturers: Smartphone manufacturers are urged to incorporate the CNAP feature within a specified timeframe.
- Utilization of Central Subscriber Database: The CNAP feature should retrieve caller information from the central subscriber database of the originating service provider.
- Submission of ‘Preferred Name’: Customers with wholesale and commercial connections should have the option to submit their preferred name instead of the one mentioned in the Customer Application Form (CAF).
Government Intervention:
TRAI suggests that the government issue directives to ensure the availability of the CNAP feature in all devices sold in India after a specified cutoff date.
Additionally, TRAI acknowledges existing third-party apps like Truecaller and Bharat Caller ID & Anti-Spam, which offer spam detection services based on crowd-sourced data.
Telecom Service Provider Obligations:
TRAI emphasizes that all access service providers should offer the CNAP supplementary service to their telephone customers upon request.
Moreover, customers with wholesale and commercial connections should be empowered to specify their preferred name.
