In a significant move to enhance the calling experience for telecommunication users in India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on the ‘Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service in Indian Telecommunication Network.’ After extensive analysis and consideration of stakeholder inputs, TRAI emphasized the need for introducing the CNAP Supplementary Service, redefining the landscape of caller identification in the country.
Enhanced Caller Identification
Under the proposed recommendations, Calling Line Identification (CLI) will be redefined to include the identity of the calling/originating subscriber, incorporating the telephone number assigned as per ITU Recommendation E.164, along with the Calling Name (CNAM) or any other prescribed identification by the Licensor. TRAI envisions this as a significant step towards providing a more comprehensive caller identification experience.
TRAI recommends that all access service providers must offer the CNAP supplementary service to their subscribers upon request. The name identity information provided by subscribers in the Customer Application Form (CAF) will play a pivotal role in CNAP purposes, contributing to a more personalized calling experience.
Technical Model Implementation
Additionally, TRAI has outlined a technical model for the implementation of CNAP in the Indian telecommunication network, focusing on streamlining the integration process. This step is crucial in ensuring a smooth and effective rollout of the CNAP Supplementary Service.
Empowering Subscriber Entities
The recommendations also advocate for subscriber entities with bulk or business connections to have the flexibility of presenting their ‘preferred name’ instead of the name specified in the CAF. This ‘preferred name’ could be their registered trademark name or trade name recognized by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs or the GST Council. The subscriber entity is required to provide appropriate documentation to verify the ownership of such names.
Truecaller’s Response
In response to the recommendations, Truecaller, a prominent caller identification service, welcomed the mission to make communication safe and efficient. While recognizing Caller ID as a crucial building block, Truecaller expressed support for TRAI’s initiatives. However, Truecaller clarified that CNAP, as suggested in the recommendations, is not perceived as a competitive service comparable to the full range of services and functionality that Truecaller offers to its more than 374 million users.
Truecaller believes that the TRAI recommendations can act as a catalyst for their continued growth in India, aligning with their mission to combat spam and scam calls.
The proposed CNAP service is poised to redefine the caller identification landscape, offering users a more personalized and secure communication experience.
