No more guessing who’s calling: Caller name display to start Nov 1

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom service providers to introduce a Calling Name Presentation service that would enable subscribers to see the caller's name along with the phone number on incoming calls.

In a circular dated October 13, the department said the service must be introduced in wireless terrestrial networks using 4G and higher-generation technologies.

The implementation of the facility on 2G and 3G networks, as well as public switched telephone networks, will be considered separately.

The service must be provided to every user from November 1, 2026, "without the requirement of any separate request", it said.

The caller identification displayed on the recipient's phone will contain the caller's telephone number and name.

If the number is saved in the recipient's contact list, the saved name will be displayed.

For domestic calls from numbers not saved in the recipient's contacts, the caller's name identity will be displayed.

In the case of international calls from numbers not saved in the contact list, the screen will show the words "International Call".

The DoT said the originating telecom service provider will have to "establish, operate and maintain a database" mapping the caller's name to the telephone number assigned to each user.

The receiving operator will retrieve the caller's name from this database and display it to the recipient.

The department has also prescribed safeguards for handling caller identity information. Operators must follow a "security-by-design approach", under which the query-response mechanism itself ensures "non-retention of the calling name identity upon completion of the incoming call".

Operators will also have to ensure that their databases, networks and connectivity infrastructure are adequately equipped to process queries and deliver caller identity information in a timely manner.

For business and bulk connections, telecom operators may offer an option to display a preferred name instead of the name recorded in the subscriber database.

Such a preferred name must be either a trademark registered in the user's name or a trade name registered on the Goods and Services Tax portal.

The originating operator will have to verify the name before allowing its display.

For existing connections, operators will have to establish a mechanism allowing users to apply for recording their preferred names.

Such names may be updated in subscriber records after examination and proper verification of the application.

The circular also requires telecom service providers to establish mechanisms to receive and resolve user grievances related to the service within a time-bound manner.

However, the names of subscribers who have opted for the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility, which restricts the display of caller identity, will not be presented.