Data bandwidth overhead reduction in a protocol based communication over a wide area network (WAN)

A method of data bandwidth overhead reduction in a protocol based communication over a Wide Area Network (WAN) includes transmitting, through a sender device of a source location, data packets of a sequence to a receiver device of a destination location communicatively coupled to the sender device through the WAN and storing a copy of the transmitted data packets in the sender device for a first threshold duration of time. When the receiver device receives a non-consecutive data packet, the receiver device waits for a second threshold period of time before transmitting a NAK message to the sender device related to non-receipt of one or more out-of-order data packet(s). The sender device interprets the NAK message and retransmits the one or more out-of-order data packet(s) to the receiver device after which the one or more out-of-order data packets are removed.