What are the consequences of using standard user datagram protocol (UDP) for VoIP telephone calls?

Using standard User Datagram Protocol (UDP) for Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone calls is a common practice due to its characteristics that align well with the requirements of real-time communication. UDP is a connectionless protocol that offers minimal delay, which is critical for voice calls where timely delivery is essential for maintaining a natural conversation flow.

When a voice packet is sent over a network using UDP, it does not go through the extensive error-checking and correction processes that other protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), utilize. While this lack of packet management means that packets may be lost or arrive out of order, the priority in VoIP calls is on speed rather than complete integrity of each packet. In other words, even if some packets are lost, as long as the majority arrive quickly, the call can still maintain acceptable audio quality.

This is beneficial because it reduces latency and jitter, which are critical factors in VoIP quality. Thus, while UDP does not guarantee the delivery of each packet and does not manage packet order or retransmission, it is capable of delivering voice data quickly enough to facilitate real-time conversation, which is why it is preferred for VoIP applications.