Caller Name Display Should Not Be Mandatory, Telecom Firms Tell Regulator

Calling Name Presentation (CNP) is a supplementary service which enables the caller's name to flash on phone screens when someone calls.

Industry body COAI has contended that implementation of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) should not be made mandatory but kept optional for telecom operators, as the association shared technical, privacy and cost related concerns with regulator TRAI to argue its point. The submissions came as part of a consultation process initiated by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the need to introduce the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) supplementary service in the telecommunication networks.

Put simply, CNAP is a supplementary service which enables the caller's name to flash on phone screens when someone calls.

COAI, whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, said "CNAP should not be mandatory and should be optional for the telecom service providers".

"Implementation of CNAP should be left to TSPs and they may consider implementing the same keeping the market dynamics / business case in mind," Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) said.