Vodafone Idea (Vi) has made its Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service live across India for on-net users, marking a key step in the industry-wide rollout of caller name identification at the telecom network level.
With CNAP enabled, Vodafone Idea users can now see the caller’s registered name during incoming calls instead of just a mobile number, helping reduce unidentified and potentially unwanted calls. The service is currently available for calls made within the Vodafone Idea network, with broader inter-network implementation expected in the next phase.
Network-Level Caller Identification
Calling Name Presentation works by displaying the caller name stored in the telecom operator’s KYC records. Unlike third-party caller identification applications, CNAP operates directly at the network layer and does not rely on crowd-sourced databases.
Also Read: CNAP vs Truecaller: Why India’s new caller ID system could change how we see incoming calls
The move is aimed at improving transparency in mobile communications and giving users greater confidence while answering calls, especially amid rising concerns around spam, fraud, and impersonation calls.
Phased Rollout Across Networks
At present, CNAP is limited to on-net calls, meaning both the caller and receiver must be on the same telecom network. This phased approach allows operators to validate accuracy and performance before expanding the feature across networks.
Other telecom operators are also working on similar implementations, and industry-wide inter-operator CNAP is expected to be rolled out gradually as technical integrations are completed.
Part of India’s Broader Anti-Spam Push
The rollout of CNAP aligns with ongoing efforts by the telecom ecosystem to strengthen consumer protection against spam and scam calls. Regulators and policymakers have been pushing for network-level solutions that reduce dependence on external applications and place more responsibility on telecom operators.
Also Read: Jio, Airtel, Vi Need to Implement CNAP By March 2026: Report
By showing verified caller names sourced from official records, CNAP is expected to complement existing spam detection and call filtering measures already deployed by operators.
What Users Can Expect Next
With on-net CNAP now live nationwide on the Vodafone Idea network, the next focus will be extending the service to off-net calls, allowing caller names to be displayed even when calls originate from other networks.
Once fully implemented across operators, CNAP could significantly change how users experience incoming calls, making mobile communication more transparent and secure.
If you are a Vi user, check your incoming calls for caller names and let us know on Twitter.
