What voice issue is a normal occurrence on the PSTN and other voice networks, typically caused by network delay?

The voice issue that is a normal occurrence on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and other voice networks, typically caused by network delay, is echo. Echo occurs when the transmitted voice signal is reflected back into the speaker’s ear, often due to network latency or issues with the microphone and speaker placement. It can become more noticeable when there is a delay in the transmission of voice packets, which is commonly found in both PSTN and VoIP systems.

Understanding this concept is crucial for managing voice quality, as echo can disrupt conversations and create confusion for users. Proper echo cancellation and voice processing techniques are employed in telecommunication systems to reduce or eliminate this issue, enhancing call clarity and user experience.

While latency refers to the time it takes for voice data to travel from one point to another and can contribute to echo, it is a broader concept rather than a specific phenomenon like echo itself. Jitter describes variability in packet arrival times and is less directly related to the phenomenon of echo. Noise typically refers to unwanted sound that interferes with communication but is not directly linked to the timing issues caused by network delay that create an echo effect.