Government Approves CNAP for Verified Caller ID to Curb Cybercrime; Nationwide Rollout by March 2026

The Government of India has directed all telecom operators to implement CNAP (Calling Name Presentation) to display verified caller names on incoming calls, aiming to reduce spam, fraud, and cybercrime.

CNAP Approval and Implementation

• Regulatory Approval: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has approved CNAP, also known as Verified Caller ID.
• Purpose: CNAP will show the KYC-verified name of the caller on incoming mobile calls, increasing trust and reducing deceptive or spam calls.
• Rollout Timeline:
  • Phase 1: Legacy circuit-switched networks using CNAM databases.
  • Phase 2: IP-based networks transmitting CNAM data via signaling.
  • Nationwide rollout expected by March 31, 2026.

Key Features

• Activated by default for all users, with an option to disable.
• Successfully tested on 4G and higher networks.
• Device compliance: All new mobile devices sold in India six months after notification must support CNAP.
• Privacy safeguards:
  • Calls with CLIR (Calling Line Identification Restriction) remain hidden.
  • Only KYC-verified names are displayed, avoiding crowdsourced or unverified data.
• Standards compliance: CNAP follows ITU-T and ETSI standards to ensure reliability and interoperability.

Expected Impact

• Increased user trust in incoming calls.
• Significant reduction in spam, fraud, and deceptive calls.
• Enhanced transparency and security across the telecom sector.