TRAI recommends introduction of Calling Name Presentation service, suggests guidelines for bulk connection holders

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has on Friday released recommendations on 'Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service in Indian Telecommunication Network'. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had earlier requested TRAI to submit its recommendations on introducing Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) facility in Indian telecom network.

In this regard, TRAI had issued a consultation paper soliciting comments and counter comments of stakeholders, for which it received 40 responses and 5 counter comments. 

Based on the comments/ inputs received from stakeholders during an open house discussion on the consultation paper on March 09, 2023, TRAI has finalized its recommendations. Its salient features are — 

a. Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) supplementary service should be introduced in the Indian telecommunication network.
b. Calling Line Identification (CLI) should be redefined as identity of the calling/originating subscriber in terms of telephone number assigned as per E.164 of ITU Recommendation/IP Address and the Calling name (CNAM) or any other identification as may be prescribed by the Licensor from time to time.
c. All access service providers should provide Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) supplementary service to their telephone subscribers upon their request.
d. The name identity information provided by the telephone subscriber in the Customer Application Form (CAF) should be used for the purpose of CNAP.
e. A technical model for implementation of CNAP in Indian telecommunication network has been outlined.
f. After acceptance of the recommendations, Government should issue appropriate instructions for making CNAP feature available in all devices sold in India after a suitable cut-off date.
g. The subscriber entities holding bulk connections and business connections should be given the facility of presenting their 'preferred name' in place of the name appearing in the Customer Application Form (CAF).
h. The 'preferred name' could be the 'trademark name registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, or the 'trade name' registered with the GST Council, or any other such unique name duly registered with the Government, provided that the subscriber entity is able to present the necessary documents to prove the ownership of such name.