What is a 
Packet Loss
?

When data packets don’t reach their destination at all causing gaps in communication or information.

Packet Loss
 Example

You’re on a call and suddenly miss half a sentence. There’s no delay or distortion it just disappears. That’s packet loss some of the data never made it through.

In digital communication, data is broken into packets and sent across the network. Packet loss occurs when one or more of those packets get dropped somewhere along the way due to:

  • Network congestion
  • Unstable Wi-Fi
  • Faulty routers or cables
  • Firewall or QoS misconfigurations

Unlike jitter or latency (which delay or scramble data), packet loss means data is gone. In real-time systems like WebRTC or VoIP, there’s often no time to resend, so missing packets result in:

  • Dropped words or audio gaps
  • Frozen or pixelated video
  • Frustrating user experiences

Acceptable packet loss rates:

  • 0–1%: Usually unnoticeable
  • 1–3%: Degradation begins
  • 5%+: Major issues in voice/video quality

In contact centres, persistent packet loss impacts call quality, agent performance, and customer satisfaction. Tools that monitor and surface packet loss are essential for CX observability and diagnosing root causes quickly.