DoT to start a pilot programme to detect robocalls

The Department of Telecommunications is planning to launch a pilot programme shortly in response to the telecom regulator's final recommendations for the rollout of caller name display on mobile phones. The outcome of the pilot will guide the final implementation, which will determine whether to implement CNAP on the network layer or the physical layer. CNAP is thought to be a means of reducing spam calls.

“The pilot will start shortly,” the official said.

TRAI had recommended that CNAP – a universal caller ID based on information that people provide in KYC documentation for their connections --- be offered as an optional feature across Indian telecom networks and on all devices sold in the country. It suggested that each network provider, such as Airtel or Jio, should first conduct a trial in one licensed service area with their subscriber base.

During the consultation process, major private telecom service providers (TSPs) Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea, along with industry body IAMAI, told TRAI that displaying the name mentioned in the KYC form could undermine subscribers’ privacy and adversely impact women’s safety. The TSPs also raised concerns about increased call set-up time, latency, and the need for significant investments to implement CNAP. They noted that currently, only 4G-enabled devices can support the feature, limiting its availability to a large portion of the market.

The official said the government has not instructed TSPs to raise prices and has not received any communication from them indicating such plans. However, the official acknowledged that India has one of the lowest average revenue per user (ARPU) in the world, while emphasising the presence of sufficient market competition.

The DoT is also collaborating with the ministry of civil aviation to introduce 5G services near airports, with some in-building solutions already being piloted. The official stressed the government’s sensitivity to aircraft security and the ongoing efforts to ensure a safe implementation, without providing a specific timeline.