Summary of this article
DoT mandates caller name display on 4G networks from November 1.
Unsaved incoming calls will display subscriber names registered with telecom operators.
Service excludes 2G/3G networks, respects line restrictions, and protects caller privacy.
Calls from unknown numbers can make it difficult for mobile users to identify who is calling. A new service is set to bring caller names directly to users’ phone screens, helping them identify callers whose numbers are not saved in their contact lists.
In a circular dated October 13, 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed telecom service providers to introduce Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service across their 4G and higher-generation wireless networks from November 1, 2026. CNAP displays the caller’s name alongside their phone number on the recipient’s screen when a call comes in. The service will be available without users having to submit a separate request.
How Will Caller Name Display Work?
The incoming call screen will show the caller’s phone number and name. If the number is saved in the recipient’s contact list, the name saved there will be displayed. If the number is not saved, the name recorded in the caller’s telecom operator’s subscriber records will be displayed for domestic calls. For an unsaved international call, the screen will display the words International Call.
The circular states, “Each originating TSP shall provide the calling name presentation service to each user without the requirement of any separate request from such user.”
Telecom operators will maintain databases linking subscribers’ names with their phone numbers. The recipient’s operator will retrieve the calling name identity from the database and display it to the user.
Will The Service Be Available On All Networks?
The November 1 rollout covers wireless terrestrial networks using 4G and higher-generation technologies. The DoT circular states that the introduction of CNAP on 2G and 3G networks and public switched telephone networks will be considered separately after examination.
This means the circular does not set November 1 as the rollout date for 2G, 3G or landline connections.
What Are The Privacy And Complaint-Handling Provisions?
The circular states that the calling name identity of users who have activated the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility under existing guidelines will not be displayed.
Telecom service providers must also take technical measures to protect communications. Their systems must be designed so that calling name identity information is not retained after the incoming call is completed. Operators must maintain the infrastructure required to retrieve and display the information while maintaining the applicable quality of telecommunication services.
The department has also directed every telecom service provider to establish measures to receive, record and maintain complaints related to CNAP and address them through their grievance-redressal mechanisms in a time-bound manner.
