Latency

Latency is the time taken for a packet or signal to travel from source to destination, expressed in milliseconds. It is critical for real-time applications: VoLTE/VoNR voice quality, online gaming, financial trading, AR/VR, and 5G ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) targeting single-digit-ms latencies. End-to-end latency comprises transmission, propagation, queuing, and processing delays.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkInternet and Routing

Latency in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Telecom networks depend on Internet-style routing (BGP, DNS, MPLS) for interconnect, transport and application delivery. Route hijacks and DNS abuse can degrade or intercept signaling as easily as any application-layer attack, which is why RPKI and DNSSEC are now standard hardening for carrier networks.

To place Latency in the wider telecom-security picture, review Satellite Backhaul, Noise, BSS, DSL, Jitter and Last Mile.

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Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.