Phones to Show Caller Names on 4G and 5G Networks From November 1
Mobile phone users in India will begin seeing the name of the person calling them, and not just the number, from November 1, 2026. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all telecom operators to introduce the calling name presentation (CNAP) service on 4G and 5G networks across all service areas, in a circular dated October 13. The department said the measure is meant to strengthen caller identification and help curb online fraud.
How The Caller Name Will Be Shown
Under the circular, the receiver’s phone will first show the name saved in its own contact list. If no name is saved, the screen will display the name registered with the caller’s telecom operator. Domestic calls will show the caller’s identity, while calls from abroad will be marked as international.
For bulk business connections, the screen will show the entity’s preferred name, which may be a trademark registered in its name or the trade name registered on the goods and services portal. Operators had run trials of the service on 4G and newer networks before the order was issued.
What Operators Must Do
For new bulk connections, operators must record the preferred name in the customer application form, the subscriber data record and supporting documents. For existing connections, the originating operator must set up a way for users to apply for a preferred name, which will be updated after verification.
Subscribers who have opted for the calling line identification restriction (CLIR) facility under existing rules will not have their names displayed. Rollout on 2G and 3G networks and on landline (PSTN) networks will be considered separately after further examination, the circular said.
Why It Matters For Ordinary Users
Unknown calls are a common entry point for fraud, from fake bank and courier calls to impersonation of officials. Seeing a name tied to the operator’s verified records gives families, senior citizens and small traders one more check before they answer or share any details. Earlier IPB reports have tracked how cyber crime has grown into a serious threat and how illegal call centres target unsuspecting people.
For businesses, the rule means customers will see a recognisable brand name rather than an unfamiliar number, which may improve trust in genuine service calls. Users who still rely on 2G or 3G handsets will not see the feature until the department takes a separate decision.
The service is due to begin within two weeks. How smoothly operators update records for existing business numbers, and how the scheme is later extended to older networks, will decide how far it helps reduce fraudulent calls.
Based on reporting by The Tribune and PTI via Daily Excelsior.
Image: IPB.
