Network delay

Network delay in an IP Network is generally the round trip delay for an IP packet within an IP network. This may be measured using tools such as "ping" or protocols such as RTCP. IP network delay is composed of the following parts:

• Processing delay - time routers take to process the packet header
• Queuing delay - time the packet sits in routing queues
• Transmission delay - time it takes to push the packet's bits onto the link
• Propagation delay - time it takes for the signal to propagate through the medium it is being transmitted through

There is a certain minimum level of delay that will be experienced due to the time it takes to transmit a packet serially through a link. Onto this is added a more variable level of delay due to network congestion. IP network delays can range from just a few milliseconds to several hundred milliseconds.

References

• "Impact of Delay in Voice over IP Services"