High Latency Communication

High latency communication refers to network interactions where there is a significant delay between sending a request and receiving a response, often due to long physical distances, network congestion, or protocol inefficiencies. It is a critical consideration in distributed systems, satellite communications, and IoT applications where real-time responsiveness is not feasible. Understanding this concept helps developers design robust systems that handle delays gracefully without compromising functionality.

Also known as: High-Latency Networks, Long-Delay Communication, Latency-Prone Systems, High-RTT Communication, Delay-Tolerant Networking

Why learn High Latency Communication?

Developers should learn about high latency communication when building applications for global or remote environments, such as satellite networks, underwater sensors, or rural internet connections, where delays can exceed seconds. It is essential for optimizing protocols like TCP/IP in high-latency scenarios, implementing caching strategies, and designing user interfaces that provide feedback during long waits. This knowledge prevents system failures and poor user experiences in latency-sensitive contexts.

Learning Resources

• docs: High Latency Networks: Concepts and Challenges
• tutorial: Delay-Tolerant Networking Tutorial
• course: High Latency Communication in Distributed Systems
• video: Optimizing for High Latency: Best Practices
• book: Network Programming for High Latency Environments