The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed Indian telecom operators to begin a pilot rollout of a new caller identification service within a week. This "Calling Name Presentation" (CNAP) feature aims to display the registered name of incoming callers on mobile screens. The initiative, however, will initially exclude all 2G network users due to technical limitations. The move is a significant step by the government to combat the increasing menace of spam and fraudulent calls across the country.^[1][2][3] ### Pilot Details and Purpose The CNAP service will show the caller's name based on their Know Your Customer (KYC) verified details, which are collected during SIM registration. This system is designed to provide greater transparency than current caller ID apps, which often rely on crowd-sourced data. The DoT has mandated that CNAP will be enabled by default for all subscribers, though users will have the option to disable it if they choose.^[4][5][6] The service's primary goal is to empower mobile users by allowing them to identify callers before answering, thereby reducing their exposure to unwanted marketing calls, scams, and cyber fraud.^[1][2][3] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) initially recommended this feature in February 2024.^[5][7] After detailed discussions, TRAI recently aligned with the DoT's view to make the service a default feature with an opt-out provision.^[5][3] Major telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are expected to participate in this initial pilot phase. Reliance Jio has developed its CNAP technology in-house, as its network operates entirely on 4G and 5G.^[1][8] Airtel and Vi have partnered with Nokia to deploy the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platform, which is crucial for supporting CNAP and other features like spam analytics.^[1][8] ### Why 2G Users Are Left Out A significant portion of India's mobile user base, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, still relies on 2G networks and feature phones. These users will not be part of the initial CNAP rollout. The DoT explained that the exclusion stems from technical challenges associated with older network infrastructure.^[1][2] Circuit-switched 2G networks lack the compatible software patches and technical upgrades needed to implement the CNAP service.^[1] Telecom service providers have reported the non-availability of these essential upgrades for their legacy networks.^[1] This technical hurdle means that CNAP will initially be available only to subscribers on 4G and 5G networks.^[1][2] Both TRAI and DoT acknowledge the limitations of older 2G and 3G systems, which do not have sufficient bandwidth to handle the service.^[2][6] While there is a commitment to extend CNAP to 2G and 3G networks once technical feasibility studies are complete, the immediate rollout prioritizes modern networks.^[5][3] ### Implementation and Future Outlook Following TRAI's updated response on October 28, 2025, the DoT instructed telecom operators to begin rolling out the CNAP service in at least one telecom circle within a week.^[5][3] This initial pilot phase is expected to last 60 days before a nationwide expansion.^[3] The service will use subscriber name data from customer application forms (CAF) and other government documentation for verification.^[5] The DoT will also work with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to ensure that all new mobile devices sold in India after a specified cut-off date support the CNAP feature.^[5][6] This coordination aims to streamline the adoption of the service across the country. The government views CNAP as a critical tool to enhance telecommunication security and transparency, ultimately reducing the incidence of fraudulent activities conducted via phone calls.^[6] The pilot's performance and user feedback will be crucial in shaping the national rollout strategy in the coming months.^[1] This move positions India alongside other countries adopting similar frameworks to combat telecom-based cybercrimes.^[2]