Techniques and apparatus for implementing a radio link control (RLC) layer and/or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer window advance with holes (e.g., one or more missing packets) are provided. One technique includes generating a sequence of packets for transmission to an apparatus. A determination of whether to request the apparatus to at least temporarily ignore missing packets from the sequence is made based on one or more criteria. A message with an indication of the determination is transmitted to the apparatus. The apparatus may receive the sequence of packets, detect missing packets in the sequence, and process the sequence of packets in accordance with the indication in the received message.