# Low latency via redundancy

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1306.3707 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1306.3707/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 16 Jun 2013.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [ML-for-ML](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.06046/) (2026)
- [DynBranch: Speculative Subgraph Reuse for Dynamic Agentic LLM Serving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.31047/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Low latency is critical for interactive networked applications. But while we know how to scale systems to increase capacity, reducing latency --- especially the tail of the latency distribution --- can be much more difficult. In this paper, we argue that the use of redundancy is an effective way to convert extra capacity into reduced latency. By initiating redundant operations across diverse resources and using the first result which completes, redundancy improves a system's latency even under exceptional conditions. We study the tradeoff with added system utilization, characterizing the situations in which replicating all tasks reduces mean latency. We then demonstrate empirically that replicating all operations can result in significant mean and tail latency reduction in real-world systems including DNS queries, database servers, and packet forwarding within networks.