There is always some latency on the network—but when it becomes too high, it can result in slow performance, poor call quality, slow websites, and other annoying experiences. High latency is a common frustration for businesses, especially when it affects mission-critical applications such as VoIP phone systems, online payment gateways, or real-time collaboration tools.
In this guide, I’ll explore the root causes of network latency from outdated hardware and inefficient network routing. I’ll also cover tools for diagnosing network latency and a short list of practical fixes to ensure smooth, fast connections across your network.
Reasons for Network Latency
To truly understand and address network latency, it is important to identify its causes, which range from physical factors such as distance to more technical aspects such as hardware performance and software performance. can
See: It is also important to understand. What is a network?, How Data Packets Workand Other Networking Fundamentals.
In this section, we’ll break down the main factors that contribute to network latency, explaining how each can affect your connection speed and overall performance. By identifying root causes, you can better address latency issues and implement the right solutions to improve your network’s responsiveness and reliability.
1. Distance
All else being equal, the greater the physical distance between the devices and server locations, the greater the latency. When it comes down to it, latency is simply the time it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination. Even when transferring data at incredibly high speeds, significant distances can still introduce noticeable delays.
For example, that’s why it’s good Web host With servers in data centers around the world – this reduces the distance data has to travel – they can offer faster service to a larger number of users than if all traffic were routed through a single location.
2. Transmission medium
Different methods of sending data, such as using different cables or wireless connections, can change how fast data moves. Fiber optic cables are similar to express lanes, as they typically cause very little latency.
On the other hand, copper cables and wireless methods are generally slower. The type and quality of the material used for these connections is also important because they affect the maximum rate at which your data can travel, and it also affects how much latency you experience. Will have to face.
See: Learn more about Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and when it will be phased out in the United States and other countries.
3. Network hardware
Network hardware, such as routers, switches, and servers, can contribute to latency if they cannot handle high data volumes efficiently. Old or low-quality network hardware can significantly slow down your network, increasing latency. For example, a new The router is designed for VoIP. The company will offer much better performance and more control than an older, unspecified device.
In addition to slowing network performance, older devices can struggle to handle the demands of modern traffic volumes, especially in high-demand environments. As a result, network congestion and queuing become more common, further increasing latency.
The limited processing power and outdated firmware of older hardware can also present a security risk, as these devices may lack the latest protections against emerging threats, potentially compromising the entire network.
See: Learn. How to perform a vulnerability scan.
4. Website Content and Design
Website design and complexity can also affect latency. Content-heavy websites—such as high-resolution images, videos, and complex scripts—require more data to be loaded. This increases the time it takes for a website to load and become fully interactive, contributing to higher perceived latency. Optimizing content, such as compressing images or using efficient code, can help reduce this latency and improve the user experience.
See: Learn about Best Digital Asset Management Tools And how companies put web content at scale.
5. Network hops
Each “hop” in a network path, such as when data passes through devices such as routers and switches, incurs a small delay. The more hops between the source and destination, the greater the overall delay. Each hop introduces processing and queuing delays as data packets are inspected and routed to their destination.
6. Malware
Malware Infections can reduce network performance by consuming bandwidth and interfering with network operations. This can increase latency as the network becomes congested or malware disrupts the normal flow of data.
7. Hosting
The type of hosting solution used for websites and applications can directly affect latency. A shared hosting environment, where multiple users share resources, can increase latency due to resource contention.
In contrast, VPS, cloud, or dedicated hosting solutions offer better performance and lower latency, as they allocate resources more efficiently and reduce the impact of other users on your network.
See: See The best web hosts of this year.
8. Software
Software performance plays an important role in network latency, especially in applications such as VoIP phone services. Because VoIP software relies on real-time data transmission, inefficient software can cause delays and negatively affect call quality.
How to Diagnose Network Latency Problems
Determining the cause of your network latency can be difficult because it can be caused by a variety of factors—only some of which are within your control. That said, there are a few things you can do to pinpoint why your network might be experiencing unusually high latency.
Network monitoring
Network monitoring is critical to identifying and measuring latency. There are several methods and tools you can use to detect latency in your network.
- Round Trip Time (RTT) Tells you how long it takes for the signal to travel to the destination and back. More time means more delay.
- Time to First Bite (TTFB) Measures how quickly a website starts to load. If it is slow, it may mean that the server itself is causing the delay.
- The ping command To see how fast data travels across your network.
- Traceroute Shows the path that data takes and where it slows down.
- MTR (My Traceroute) There is a combo tool that uses ping and traceroute to get a more detailed look at where the latency is happening.
Explore. Best Network Monitoring Software To ensure you have full visibility into your network. These are important to keep latency down to acceptable levels and to fix new lags that arise.
Network Mapping
Network mapping is an essential process in understanding and managing network latency. This involves creating a visual representation of your network infrastructure, including all the devices, connections, and paths through which data travels.
This visualization can also reveal complexities and bottlenecks in the network that can contribute to latency. By examining the network layout, you can identify long paths, excessive hops, or congested nodes that can cause delays. Network mapping tools It can even provide real-time data about network performance, making it easy to identify problems as they happen.
Manual troubleshooting
We know that troubleshooting can be time-consuming and painful, but it’s often the most effective way to identify and correct network latency issues. For example, Troubleshooting VoIP network quality issues Can fix dropped calls in five minutes — or hours with the help of someone with decades of IT and telecom experience.
Having a method for troubleshooting gives you a systematic way to eliminate every possible cause, ultimately reducing guesswork and increasing the efficiency of your discovery process. By following a systematic plan or using a purpose-built Network troubleshooting and diagnostic toolsyou can identify the source of the problem and apply appropriate solutions to regain optimal network performance.
Application performance analysis
Sometimes perceived network latency is caused by specific applications. Analyzing the performance of applications – especially those that rely heavily on network connectivity, e.g CRM software – Can shed light on whether latency is a network issue or an application-specific issue.
Must see Application performance monitoring toolsbecause it can track response times, transaction paths, and other metrics that affect the user experience.
Five Ways to Reduce Network Latency
Here are five practical ways to fix network latency and increase the overall performance of your network.
1. Use a CDN.
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a vast network of servers and data centers located around the world. Its primary function is to store and manage data, making it more accessible and faster to retrieve from different locations.
This network setup is beneficial not only for website content but also for Internet-based services such as VoIP.
Specifically for call center VoIP, a CDN ensures that voice data is transmitted from a nearby server, increasing call clarity and reliability. By reducing the distance data needs to travel, a CDN improves the speed and quality of service whether it’s loading a website or connecting a voice call.
See: Discover. Best CDN Providers.
2. Deploy edge computing.
Edge computing focuses on processing data closer to where it originates, rather than relying on a centralized data center.
This approach reduces the distance data has to travel, leading to faster processing and lower latency. It is also particularly effective in environments where fast response times are important, such as call centers.
For example, a call center may benefit from edge computing for real-time analytics. By enabling local data processing, edge computing ensures more efficient data handling – essential for the fast-paced demands of modern call center technologies.
See: Read our A Brief Introduction to Edge Computing.
3. Upgrade the network infrastructure.
Upgrading network infrastructure means replacing old components like routers and cables with newer, faster parts. For example, switching from old copper cables to fiber optic cables, or getting better routers. These upgrades help transfer and process data faster while reducing network latency.
Even upgrading your internet plan to one with more bandwidth can make a significant difference. These basic upgrades eliminate delays caused by slow or obsolete physical devices.
See: Learn about How to Find the Best Internet Service Provider (ISP).
4. Optimize network software and routing
Efficient data flow relies on software and routing optimization to minimize latency. Implementing software-defined networking (SDN) allows for dynamic traffic adjustments, ensuring data takes the fastest route. Quality of Service (QoS) settings can prioritize important traffic, such as video calls, over less essential data. Streamlining routing paths, for example, makes delivery faster by reducing unnecessary network hops.
See: Learn. How to Optimize a VoIP Networkwhich is particularly sensitive to delay.
5. Subnetting
Subnetworking divides an IP network into smaller subnetworks based on IP address ranges. This helps prevent too many devices from overloading the network, reduces latency, and makes managing network traffic easier.
By localizing traffic, subnetting reduces the distance a data packet needs to travel, reducing congestion and routing delays. For example, in an office network, creating separate subnets for departments can improve performance by isolating traffic and reducing unnecessary network hops.