India’s telecom regulator TRAI has unveiled new regulations aimed at introducing caller ID as a default service and preventing fraudulent SIM swap activities.
Here are the key things you need to know about these new rules:
1. Mandatory Caller ID
TRAI has recommended that all telecom operators provide “Calling Name Presentation (CNAP)” as a supplementary service to customers. This means your incoming calls will display the name the number was registered with by default.
2. Goodbye Truecaller?
The introduction of an official caller ID service could impact the usage of third-party apps like Truecaller in India. However, Truecaller claims its AI capabilities offer much more than just basic number identification.
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3. Impact on Privacy
There are potential privacy implications of making caller names public by default. It remains to be seen how these regulations will work with the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
4. 7-Day SIM Swap Cooling Period
To prevent fraudulent SIM swaps, TRAI has instituted a 7-day cooling period after a SIM replacement or swap before you can port your number to a new operator.
5. No Cooling for Upgrades
The 7-day rule doesn’t apply if you are simply upgrading your SIM from 3G to 4G/5G on the same network. Porting is allowed immediately after an upgrade.
6. OTP Still Required
Even after the cooling period, you’ll still need to authenticate a number port request via OTP to prevent unauthorised transfers.
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7. Match CAF Details
When porting, your Customer Acquisition Form details have to match what the operators have on record as an added security check.
8. No Pending Dues
You cannot port your number if you have outstanding bills or dues pending with your current operator.
9. Why the New Rules?
The new SIM swap rules were instituted after the DoT raised concerns about rising incidents of fraudulent porting through unauthorised SIM replacements.
10. Effective Dates
The CNAP caller ID recommendations are still awaiting DoT’s final approval, while the new MNP/SIM swap rules kick in from July 1, 2024.
Whether you welcome the new caller ID service or worry about privacy implications, and whether you frequently port numbers or stick to one operator, these new TRAI regulations are set to change the telecom experience for India’s mobile users. Stay tuned for more updates as the rules get implemented in the coming months.
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