In a significant move to tackle the menace of spam and fraudulent calls, India’s leading telecom operators have initiated the rollout of the Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) feature. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and the state-run BSNL have begun introducing this service across select telecom circles through phased trials and live deployments.
The CNAP feature is designed to enhance transparency for mobile users. Unlike third-party identification apps that often rely on crowdsourced data, CNAP displays the registered name of the caller directly on the recipient’s phone screen. This name is sourced from the official documents submitted by the subscriber at the time of SIM registration, making the information more reliable and difficult to manipulate.
Phased Rollout Across Circles
The implementation is currently varying by operator and region. Reliance Jio has taken a lead by making CNAP live in multiple circles. Users in West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, UP East, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha may now see verified caller names.
Bharti Airtel has launched the feature in West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea has rolled out the service in Maharashtra, with a partial implementation currently underway in Tamil Nadu. BSNL is also part of this initiative, currently testing the service on a trial basis in West Bengal.
The service is expected to expand to additional circles in the coming weeks as operators finalize testing and system integration processes.
DoT Warns Against ‘Silent Calls’
Amid these technological upgrades, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a caution regarding a specific type of nuisance known as “silent calls.” In these instances, users receive calls where no voice is heard after answering.
According to the DoT, fraudsters often use these silent calls to verify if a mobile number is active. Once confirmed, the number may be targeted for phishing attempts or other scams. The department has advised citizens to block such numbers immediately.
Users are also encouraged to report these suspicious numbers through the government’s Sanchar Saathi portal. Reporting these incidents helps authorities track patterns and prevents further misuse, offering better protection to the wider mobile user base.
Disclaimer: This report is based on publicly available information and official statements related to telecom service rollouts. Availability of features may vary by circle and network.
