India: from November, phones will show the caller's registered name
India's government is requiring mobile operators to display the subscriber's name on incoming calls over 4G and newer networks. The aim is to curb spam and fraud.
Symbolic image · Photo: Sahil Dhiman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Anyone receiving a call in India will, from 1 November, see not only the number but also the caller's registered name. The country's telecommunications ministry ordered this in a circular dated 13 October, The Hacker News reported on Thursday. The service is called Calling Name Presentation (CNAP). The goal is to help people identify unknown callers and to reduce spam and fraud calls. The requirement initially applies to mobile networks from 4G upwards; 2G, 3G and the fixed-line network will be considered separately later.
Technically, operators must maintain a database linking phone numbers to their customers' names. The recipient's operator queries it for the name and displays it. If the number is saved in the recipient's contacts, the name stored there will still appear. Calls from abroad will display 'International Call'.
To protect privacy, operators must offer a caller ID restriction option allowing callers to hide their identity. The name data may not be retained after the call ends. Businesses and bulk customers can display a preferred name instead of a personal name, but it must match a registered trademark or a trade name registered on the tax portal.