Telecom Operators to Display Caller Names From November 1

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to roll out Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) across their service areas from November 1, 2026. This mandate will allow users to view the caller's name alongside their phone number, eliminating the need to save contact details beforehand.

The implementation follows an amendment to the unified license agreement defining Calling Line Identification (CLI), which also takes effect on the same date. The revised definition incorporates the caller's name as recorded in the telecom operators' subscriber databases, though existing saved contacts will remain unaffected.

CNAP will be enabled by default on 4G and higher-generation networks. Its deployment on 2G and 3G networks, as well as landlines, will be assessed separately. Callers utilizing the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility to conceal their identity will be exempt from this requirement.

Originating telecom service providers must maintain a database linking subscriber names to their telephone identifiers. This database will be queried by the recipient's operator to display the caller's name, with the information not retained post-call. Business users may display a preferred name, subject to verification of trademark or GST registration, with telecom operators like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone responsible for the verification process.