---
title: "How to understand packet loss and latency | Kilobat"
url: "https://kilobat.app/broadband/packet-loss"
description: "Latency is the time a probe takes to travel to a destination and back. Missing ping replies are not necessarily lost application traffic."
---

Kilobat broadband guide

# How to understand packet loss and latency

Latency is the time a probe takes to travel to a destination and back. Missing ping replies are not necessarily lost application traffic.

## Synthetic connection checks

Invented example: four hourly check summaries from one Mac on one evening. The target and monitoring coverage are unknown.

| Local hour | Latency, ms | Ping replies missing, % |
|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | 24 | 0 |
| 19:00 | 31 | 0 |
| 20:00 | 80 | 5 |
| 21:00 | 28 | 0 |

Example only. Missing ping replies are not necessarily lost application traffic. These readings do not establish the cause.

## What to check

Record the target, time, number of probes and connection type. Compare router replies with more than one internet target when possible. Some destinations limit or ignore pings.

## What to do next

A report summarizes checks from one Mac while it was running. Missing monitoring is not proof of uptime, and results alone do not identify who is at fault.

## Official source

[ACCC: broadband performance data](https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/telecommunications-and-internet/broadband-performance-data)

Sources checked 3 November 2026. Rules, contracts and complaint routes can change. Check official guidance for your circumstances.

## Get help with your report

Send us a reviewed Kilobat support report. We can help you understand the measurements, choose a next test and prepare a message for your provider.

[Learn about report review →](https://kilobat.app/network-report-review)

[Slower than advertised](https://kilobat.app/broadband/slower-than-advertised) · [Wi-Fi and Ethernet](https://kilobat.app/broadband/wifi-vs-ethernet) · [Packet loss and latency](https://kilobat.app/broadband/packet-loss) · [Complaint letter](https://kilobat.app/broadband/complaint-letter) · [Rights updates](https://kilobat.app/broadband/rights-updates)