Incoming calls on your phone will soon show the caller’s name. Here’s how

Starting November 1, telecom companies Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea will be required by law to display the caller's name on mobile phones, according to a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directive. Known as Caller Name Presentation (CNAP), this new feature aims to help users quickly determine whether to answer calls, particularly in light of the rise in digital fraud cases.

The name of the caller will be displayed alongside their phone number on the recipient's phone once the call arrives. This service will only be accessible to users with a 4G network, while 2G and 3G networks, as well as landline connections, will be addressed differently. The telecom provider that the call originates from will provide the caller ID service without requiring any additional input from the user.

The identification will consist of two pieces of information: the first is the unique telephone identifier assigned to the caller by the originating telecom company, and the second is the name of the caller, as registered. If the user has previously saved the number of the caller, their name will appear during the call. For numbers not previously saved, the name of the user from the database will be shown for domestic calls, and "international call" will be shown for calls originating abroad.

To protect user privacy, the DoT has asked telecom companies to adopt a "security-by-design" approach, which means that the calling name identity will not be retained after the call has ended. Users who have opted in for Caller Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) will be exempt from this system, and their names will not be included in CNAP.

Telecom companies are also requested to ensure that the database, network, and connectivity infrastructure are secure. Businesses and bulk users can opt for a custom display name, which can be a trademark registered under their name or the name of their business as registered on the Goods and Services Tax portal. The telecom companies will have to verify the authenticity of these names before displaying them.