When discussing network performance, two terms frequently crop up: jitter and latency. Whilst these metrics are related, they measure different aspects of network behaviour. Let’s delve into what each means and why they matter.

Latency: The Base Journey Time

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from source to destination. Think of it as the “delay” in your network connection. If you’re playing an online game and press a button, latency determines how long it takes for that action to reach the game server.

Latency is typically measured in milliseconds (ms) and represents a one-way or round-trip time:

• One-way latency: Time for data to travel from point A to point B
• Round-trip time (RTT): Time for data to travel from point A to point B and back

Common latency values:

• Local network: 1-5ms
• Same-country internet connection: 10-40ms
• Cross-continental connection: 60-200ms
• Satellite internet: 500-700ms

Jitter: The Variation in Journey Time

Jitter, on the other hand, measures the variation in latency over time. It’s the inconsistency in the packet delivery time. If latency is the delay, jitter is how much that delay fluctuates.

For example, if you send five packets with the following latencies:

• Packet 1: 20ms
• Packet 2: 25ms
• Packet 3: 18ms
• Packet 4: 22ms
• Packet 5: 21ms

The jitter is the average deviation between consecutive packets. High jitter means your connection is unstable, even if the average latency is low.

Why They Matter Differently

Impact of High Latency

• Delayed response in real-time applications
• Slower page load times
• Noticeable lag in online gaming
• Delayed video conference responses

Impact of High Jitter

• Choppy or robotic voice in VoIP calls
• Video buffering and quality fluctuations
• Inconsistent gaming experience
• Packet reordering issues

Real-World Analogies

Think of latency and jitter like a commute to the office:

• Latency is like the total journey time
• Jitter is like the day-to-day variation in that journey time

A 30-minute commute (latency) that’s consistently 30 minutes every day (low jitter) is often preferable to a 20-minute commute (lower latency) that unpredictably varies between 10 and 30 minutes (high jitter).

The Leased Line Advantage: How Exascale Makes a Difference

One of the most effective ways to dramatically improve both latency and jitter is through a leased line connection. Exascale’s leased lines offer several key advantages over traditional broadband connections:

Superior Latency Performance

• Dedicated, point-to-point connection with guaranteed bandwidth
• Direct routing that bypasses the public internet’s congestion points
• Typical latency improvements of 30-50% compared to standard business broadband
• Consistent sub-10ms latency for many UK connections

Exceptional Jitter Management

• Extremely low jitter rates due to dedicated infrastructure
• No contention with other users’ traffic
• Typical jitter values of less than 1ms
• Perfect for latency-sensitive applications like VoIP and video conferencing

Business Benefits

• Symmetric upload and download speeds
• 99.99% uptime guarantee
• Dedicated support and monitoring
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee performance

Real-World Impact

For businesses using Exascale leased lines, the improvements are substantial:

• VoIP calls maintain crystal-clear quality
• Video conferences run without freezing or buffering
• Cloud applications respond as if they were running locally
• Remote desktop sessions feel smooth and responsive

Measuring and Improving

Latency Optimisation

• Choose servers geographically closer to users
• Use content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Optimise routing paths
• Reduce processing time

Jitter Management

• Implement jitter buffers
• Prioritise time-sensitive traffic
• Ensure consistent network bandwidth
• Monitor and maintain network equipment

Conclusion

Whilst both latency and jitter affect network performance, they require different approaches to manage and optimise. Understanding the distinction helps network administrators and developers build more reliable and responsive applications.

Remember:

• Latency = How long it takes
• Jitter = How much that time varies

For businesses seeking the ultimate in network performance, an Exascale leased line provides the perfect solution by delivering consistently low latency and minimal jitter. This combination ensures a stable, predictable, and high-performance network experience that traditional broadband simply cannot match.

By monitoring and optimising both metrics, and choosing the right infrastructure provider like Exascale, you can ensure a more stable and predictable network experience for your users.