Jio, Airtel, Vi to Introduce Built-In Caller ID to Reduce Spam Calls

India’s leading telecom operators—Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi)—are preparing to launch Caller Name Presentation (CNAP), a built-in caller ID feature to help users identify unknown callers without third-party apps like Truecaller. These companies are collaborating with global technology firms, including HP, Dell, Ericsson, and Nokia, to develop the required software and infrastructure.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended CNAP implementation in February 2024, urging telecom providers to integrate the service. In January 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed operators to roll out CNAP at the earliest, aiming to reduce spam and scam calls. Trials have already begun, and the feature will be introduced in phases.

CNAP will initially display caller names within the same telecom network. For example, an Airtel user calling another Airtel number will have their name displayed, but cross-network identification will require further regulatory approvals. The system will use details from the Customer Application Form (CAF), submitted during SIM registration, to retrieve caller names.

While smartphone users will benefit from this service, telecom companies have stated that feature phone and 2G users may not be able to access CNAP due to technical limitations.

Nokia’s Arvind Khurana, regional vice president and country head for cloud and network services, confirmed the company’s involvement in implementing CNAP for Indian telecom networks. Meanwhile, according to the Sanchar Saathi portal, over 256,000 complaints related to spam calls have been registered since May 2023.

This initiative is expected to improve user security and reduce unwanted calls, marking a major shift in India’s telecom industry.

Source: Business Standard