Top 10 WebRTC Challenges and How Digital Samba Solves Them

WebRTC, or Web Real-Time Communication, is a transformative technology that enables direct, real-time communication between web browsers and devices. It powers essential digital experiences such as video conferencing, voice calls, and peer-to-peer data sharing without the need for plugins or third-party software installations. By leveraging standardised protocols and APIs, WebRTC offers developers a means to build interactive, high-performance applications directly within the browser.

Designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, WebRTC supports audio and video codecs, data channels, and media capture capabilities across major browsers. Its peer-to-peer nature allows for reduced latency and bandwidth consumption, making it ideal for applications that demand responsiveness and interactivity, such as telehealth platforms, remote education tools such as virtual classrooms, and online collaboration suites.

However, the power of WebRTC comes with inherent complexity. Although its API is here to make things easier, implementing a robust, secure, and scalable WebRTC solution requires deep technical expertise. Developers very often must address cross-browser inconsistencies, navigate challenging network environments, and implement appropriate security measures - all while ensuring a seamless user experience. As such, while WebRTC empowers innovation, it also introduces a unique set of challenges that must be effectively managed to unlock its full potential.

Table of contents

1. Navigating the complexities of WebRTC implementation
2. The top 10 WebRTC issues unveiled (and their practical solutions)
3. Digital Samba: Your partner in WebRTC excellence
4. From exploitation to ethics: the WebRTC tracking scandal and Digital Samba’s response
5. Conclusion
6. Appendix

In this article, we will explore the most common WebRTC issues developers face today and how these challenges can be mitigated with strategic planning, best practices, and the support of purpose-built platforms like Digital Samba. From connectivity hurdles to debugging frustrations, we will reveal the technical obstacles and provide actionable insights for overcoming them, and by doing so, demonstrate how Digital Samba offers a streamlined, scalable solution for businesses building with WebRTC.

Navigating the complexities of WebRTC implementation

While WebRTC has made real-time communication more accessible than ever, its implementation can be deceptively complex. Unlike traditional VoIP systems, WebRTC operates in diverse environments, from enterprise firewalls to mobile networks, introducing variables that can cause unpredictable behaviour. Developers must account for a wide array of conditions, including NAT traversal, packet loss, latency, and jitter, each of which can significantly impact performance. Thus, even a seemingly minor configuration oversight can lead to issues like dropped connections, poor media quality, or the dreaded “WebRTC line is not registered” error.

Another significant hurdle is browser fragmentation. Although WebRTC is supported by major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, implementation details often vary. For example, Chrome’s WebRTC debugging tools (chrome://webrtc-internals) offer in-depth insights, but equivalent functionality in other browsers may be limited or presented differently. This makes cross-browser testing and quality assurance an essential part of the development lifecycle - one that is both time-consuming and technically demanding. Furthermore, browser updates can alter WebRTC behaviour overnight, requiring continuous monitoring and adaptation.

In most cases, developers must build their own signalling mechanisms since WebRTC does not define a signalling protocol. This flexibility allows for customisation but also adds another layer of complexity. The process of negotiating session parameters, exchanging ICE candidates, and establishing secure connections involves intricate client-server logic that must be both performant and secure. Without a mature signalling architecture, WebRTC applications risk falling short in reliability and scalability.

Because of all these technical challenges, there is a need for a reliable infrastructure that can scale to support large user bases and dynamic usage patterns. This includes provisioning Traversal Using Relays around NAT (network address translation) or TURN servers for relayed media traffic and designing media servers like Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) media servers for multi-party calls. These components must be globally distributed, resilient, and optimised for low-latency routing. For teams without deep real-time communications expertise, assembling and maintaining such infrastructure can be an insurmountable task, which again highlights the value of platforms like Digital Samba that abstract this complexity and provide turnkey solutions.

The top 10 WebRTC issues unveiled (and their practical solutions)

1. Problem: network connectivity

Very often, firewalls, NAT traversal issues, and unstable internet connections can disrupt peer-to-peer communication. These obstacles can prevent Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) from successfully negotiating media paths. When ICE fails, media cannot flow between participants, often leading to silent audio or frozen video screens.

Solution: Enhancing network connectivity

You can avoid connectivity issues by implementing ICE protocols and configuring STUN/TURN servers properly to navigate NATs and firewalls. To further improve reliability, deploy globally distributed TURN servers to reduce latency and ensure consistent connection fallbacks. We advise you to also monitor the ICE candidate gathering time and connection state changes because they can also help identify and fix connectivity problems.

2.  Problem: Browser compatibility

Since different browsers implement WebRTC APIs differently, this can lead to inconsistent behaviour across platforms. Features such as simulcast or VP9 support might be available in one browser but missing or buggy in another. Therefore, developers must continuously test across versions and update their implementations to maintain consistency and functionality.

Solution: Ensuring browser compatibility

Try using feature detection libraries and regularly test applications across different browsers to handle API discrepancies. Incorporating shims or polyfills such as Adapter.js can help bridge inconsistencies in older or non-standard implementations. It is recommended to document known browser behaviours and set up automated cross-browser testing tools to ensure long-term stability.

3. Problem: Signalling challenges

Since WebRTC lacks a standardised signalling protocol, it is required by developers to implement their own protocol, which can lead to interoperability issues. If signalling isn’t properly designed, connections may fail to initiate or re-establish during network fluctuations, which can result in failed call setups or dropped sessions mid-communication.

Solution: Standardising signalling 

It is advisable to adopt widely-used signalling protocols like Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), originally named Jabber, to facilitate better interoperability. Use structured formats like JSON and WebSockets to manage signalling messages effectively and reliably. You can also try to implement retry logic and connection timeout handling to reduce the risk of failed call setups.

4.  Problem: STUN/TURN server misconfigurations

In case you end up with an incorrect setup of STUN/TURN servers, this will, in most cases, prevent successful connection establishment. TURN servers are especially critical when direct peer-to-peer connections fail, acting as media relays. Without proper authentication, timeout settings, or port configurations, these servers become ineffective, leading to connection failures.

Solution: Configuring STUN/TURN servers correctly

You should ensure that these servers are set up with the correct credentials and are reachable by clients to facilitate connection establishment. Use secure TURN connections over Transport Layer Security (TLS), i.e. TURN over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to avoid being blocked by strict corporate firewalls. You can do regular health checks and load balancing across multiple relay nodes that will enhance resilience and reliability.

5. Problem: Media quality issues

Some users may experience poor audio and video quality due to bandwidth limitations or hardware constraints, which is something that most users complain about. Factors like network jitter, packet loss,  or underpowered devices can degrade the user experience, meaning some are in your hands, and some will depend on the user’s settings. There are adaptive bitrate mechanisms and codec selection that can mitigate these problems, but require careful tuning.

Solution: Optimising media quality

We advise you to implement adaptive bitrate algorithms and use codecs like Opus for audio and VP8/VP9 for video to enhance quality under varying network conditions. Dynamically adjusting resolution and frame rate based on bandwidth availability can significantly improve user experience and satisfaction. Incorporate echo cancellation, noise suppression, and gain control so that you can improve audio clarity.

6. Problem: Security concerns

This is most probably no news to you, but without proper encryption and authentication, WebRTC applications can be vulnerable to attacks. WebRTC mandates the use of Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), but these are only part of a broader security model. If developers overlook access control, session hijacking or eavesdropping becomes a real threat.

Solution: Securing communications

It is highly recommended to utilise DTLS and SRTP for encryption and implement proper authentication mechanisms to safeguard data. Enforce HTTPS and WSS (WebSocket Secure) for all signalling and media-related communication to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. You can also regularly audit your code and server configurations to stay compliant with modern security standards and regulations, which is something that should be part of your policy.

7. Problem: Debugging difficulties

Sometimes, identifying and resolving issues in real-time communication can be complex or even impossible without adequate tools. Applications like chrome://webrtc-internals or external WebRTC troubleshooters can provide diagnostics, but interpreting the logs requires expertise. A lack of structured logging or metrics can make it nearly impossible to trace issues in production.

Solution: Leveraging debugging tools

From experience, we know that using tools like Chrome's WebRTC Internals (chrome://webrtc-internals) to monitor and debug real-time communication sessions can assist you in your work. It is best to integrate server-side logging and performance monitoring to track events like ICE failures, dropped packets, and codec switches. Training your development team on interpreting these logs ensures faster troubleshooting and resolution.

8. Problem: Scalability limitations

In case your use case needs to handle a large number of concurrent users, this will require careful architecture planning. Peer-to-peer models don’t scale well for group calls, necessitating the use of Selective Forwarding Units (SFUs) or Multipoint Control Units (MCUs). Without these, you can expect performance to degrade quickly as participants are added, leading to dropped frames and delayed audio, which you should try to avoid at any cost.

Solution: Designing for scalability

Try incorporating SFUs or MCUs to manage multiple streams efficiently, and you can also use horizontal scaling and microservices architecture to distribute media processing workloads. Moreover, monitor user traffic patterns and scale infrastructure dynamically to avoid bottlenecks during peak usage.

9. Problem: Device and OS variability

As you could expect, different devices and operating systems may not support all WebRTC features uniformly because hardware acceleration, camera permissions, and background restrictions differ across platforms. These inconsistencies can result in degraded functionality or a complete failure to initiate calls on certain devices.

Solution: Testing across devices

What you can do to avoid these discrepancies is to conduct extensive testing on various devices and operating systems - this will ensure consistent performance and stability. Use cloud-based testing platforms that simulate different environments and automate regression testing. You should also collect feedback from real users to detect edge cases and environment-specific bugs that automated testing may miss.

10.  Problem: User registration errors

Issues like “WebRTC line is not registered” can very often occur due to session management problems. These errors often stem from misconfigured SIP backends, expired tokens, or transport-layer failures. When registration fails, users are unable to join sessions, making this one of the most critical issues to address promptly.

Solution: Managing user sessions effectively

We advise you to implement robust session management to prevent errors like “WebRTC line is not registered,” ensuring seamless user experiences. Use token-based authentication with defined expiration logic to maintain secure and valid sessions. Make sure that you are logging failed registration attempts and providing user-facing error messages because they can greatly assist in troubleshooting.

Digital Samba: Your partner in WebRTC excellence

As WebRTC continues to evolve as the de facto standard for browser-based real-time communication, organisations increasingly face the burden of managing its technical intricacies. From configuring infrastructure and ensuring security to maintaining consistent performance across devices, deploying a robust WebRTC solution can quickly become overwhelming, especially for teams without extensive in-house expertise. This is where we at Digital Samba draw on 23 years of experience to offer a powerful, privacy-first platform designed to simplify the complexity of WebRTC.

Digital Samba is a European-based provider of secure, GDPR-compliant video conferencing and embedded communication solutions. With years of experience in the field, we engineered the platform to help developers, product teams, and enterprises focus on building user-centric features instead of grappling with media servers, signalling logic, and troubleshooting tools.

Our platform delivers out-of-the-box scalability, high-definition media delivery, and advanced diagnostics tools—all while maintaining stringent data protection standards. Whether you're integrating video chat into a telehealth application or scaling up a virtual classroom, Digital Samba provides the tools and support you need to succeed with WebRTC.

By abstracting away the most common WebRTC pain points, Digital Samba will enable teams to launch faster, reduce operational overhead, and deliver superior user experiences. Let's take a closer look at how our software addresses each of the top WebRTC issues identified earlier in this article:

1. GDPR-compliant video conferencing

Digital Samba ensures that all user data is handled in strict compliance with GDPR regulations, offering peace of mind for organisations operating within or serving the European market. Personal data is processed within the EU, and data access is fully auditable. This ensures legal compliance and builds trust with privacy-conscious users and regulators.

2. Low-code integration

Our platform provides developer-friendly APIs and SDKs that allow you to embed video conferencing with just a few lines of code. It supports modern frameworks and includes rich documentation and example implementations. This will dramatically accelerate time to market for applications needing real-time communication features.

3. High-quality media streaming

Digital Samba uses advanced codecs, SFUs, and adaptive bitrate control to optimise audio and video delivery under varying network conditions. HD and even Full HD resolution is supported, with dynamic fallback for slower connections that will ensure users experience crisp and clear communication across all bandwidth scenarios.

4. Robust security measures

The platform implements end-to-end encryption (E2EE), secure token-based authentication, and encrypted signalling to protect all layers of communication. We continuously update our security in line with best practices and emerging threats, which highly reduces the risk of breaches and maintains data confidentiality at all times.

5. Scalable infrastructure 

Digital Samba’s architecture is built to support global scalability with redundant servers, SFUs, and automatic failover mechanisms. Whether you're hosting a small team meeting or a large virtual event, the platform scales effortlessly and enables consistent quality and reliability as user demand grows.

6. Comprehensive debugging tools

Integrated dashboards and logs will offer you insight into WebRTC session performance, making it easier to pinpoint and resolve issues. Tools like real-time call stats, ICE candidate visualisation, and server-side metrics are readily accessible. These capabilities transform complex debugging tasks into manageable processes.

7.  Cross-platform compatibility

Our platform ensures seamless performance across browsers and devices, with ongoing compatibility testing and updates. Mobile SDKs are available for iOS and Android, ensuring native performance on smartphones and tablets. This consistency will effectively reduce development workload and improve the end-user experience.

8. Dedicated support

Digital Samba provides expert technical support to help teams resolve issues quickly and optimise integration. Our support staff includes WebRTC specialists who understand the nuances of browser behaviour, media delivery, and security that will allow clients to navigate challenges with confidence and agility.

9. Customisation and branding

The platform allows extensive UI customisation and white labelling, letting your business tailor the interface to match your brand identity. From logos and colour schemes to custom user flows, the system is fully adaptable. This helps organisations maintain brand consistency while delivering best-in-class communication features.

10. Uptime and reliability

Digital Samba guarantees high availability with 99.9% uptime SLAs, redundant systems, and constant monitoring. Real-time alerts and load balancing will make sure your sessions remain stable even under peak loads. Therefore, our software is a dependable choice for mission-critical applications where downtime is not an option.

From exploitation to ethics: the WebRTC tracking scandal and Digital Samba’s response

You may have seen recent headlines about Meta’s misuse of WebRTC. Let’s be clear: WebRTC itself is safe. The problem wasn’t the technology—it was how Meta deliberately abused it.

In mid-June 2025, the digital world was rocked by revelations that Meta—through its Facebook and Instagram Android apps—had covertly exploited WebRTC to spy on users. The incident, which also implicated several Yandex Android apps, involved a sophisticated technique now referred to as “localhost tracking.”

Instead of leveraging WebRTC for its intended purpose of real-time audio and video transmission, Meta used it as a surveillance tool. By creating silent UDP listeners within its apps and linking them to embedded Facebook Pixel scripts running in users’ browsers, Meta managed to circumvent privacy protections such as VPNs, incognito mode, and cookie deletion.

This breach not only alarmed privacy advocates but also placed Meta under potential multi-billion-euro scrutiny under GDPR, the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The mechanics of this intrusion were shockingly simple yet technically cunning. Researchers discovered that the Facebook Pixel JavaScript, embedded in millions of websites, used WebRTC to transmit the browser's _fbp tracking cookie to localhost, specifically to UDP ports 12580 through 12585. On the user’s device, Meta’s apps silently listened on those same ports, capturing the cookie and linking it to the user’s logged-in identity. Because the data never left the device in transit, traditional defences like VPNs or clearing browser cookies offered no protection. Once linked, the enriched user profile was sent to Meta’s servers, enabling unprecedented tracking.

While Meta and Yandex have since halted this activity, the incident exposed how real-time technologies like WebRTC can be twisted for silent, deeply invasive data collection.

In stark contrast, Digital Samba’s approach to WebRTC is rooted in ethics. WebRTC is a powerful and secure technology when used responsibly, and the issue here isn’t the protocol itself, but how it was exploited. What Meta did was a gross misuse of a real-time communication standard, and we condemn it in the strongest terms.

At Digital Samba, we use WebRTC exactly as intended: to provide secure, private, and high-quality video communication. Our platform is built with privacy by design, fully compliant with GDPR and other European regulations. You can trust that we do not—and will never—engage in hidden tracking or misuse of local device resources.

Conclusion

Navigating the world of WebRTC can be daunting, even for seasoned developers. From dealing with connectivity disruptions and debugging headaches to ensuring security and scalability, the journey to a seamless real-time communication experience is filled with technical landmines. Yet, with the right knowledge, tools, and strategic partners, these challenges are not only manageable—they’re solvable. By understanding the top 10 WebRTC issues and applying the practical solutions outlined in this article, teams can significantly improve the reliability and quality of their applications.

Digital Samba stands out as a trusted ally in this process, simplifying the complexities of WebRTC with a secure, scalable, and developer-friendly platform. Whether you're launching a telehealth app, an e-learning environment, or a virtual event service, Digital Samba offers the performance, privacy, and support needed to succeed. With its GDPR-compliant infrastructure, powerful APIs, and world-class support, you can focus on building great user experiences without getting bogged down in the technical details of WebRTC.

Get in touch with our sales team today to learn how we can help you overcome your WebRTC challenges. Book a free, personalised demo and see firsthand how our platform can streamline your development, enhance media quality, and scale with your needs. 

Appendix

As a result of this misuse of WebRTC - the very core of our product - by Meta to spy on users and disregard their own security and privacy promises, we at Digital Samba, a privacy-first company, have decided to leave both Facebook and Instagram.

These breaches fundamentally contradict our values and the philosophy on which we build our WebRTC-based video conferencing products. At the end of the day, such behaviour harms our business as well, because it casts a shadow over WebRTC technology, which we work hard to ensure is always safe and secure. Unlike Meta, we stand by our promise to our customers.

We would also like to take this opportunity to address the direction of the platform X, where new ownership has introduced standards that no longer align with our principles. As of today, we will cease posting there as well.

If you’d like to stay connected and follow what we’re working on, please find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, or if you feel like staying away from social media, subscribe to our newsletter.

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