The present invention is a method and apparatus for voice communication. Vocoded frames are transmitted using a transmission intervals. Each transmission interval is split into a first interval portion and a second interval portion. Code symbols associated with each vocoded frame are divided into a group A and a group B. The method includes transmitting group A code symbols of a first vocoded frame using a first interval portion of an interval i; decoding the group A code symbols received at the first interval portion of the interval i; performing an error detection code check on the first interval portion of the interval i; generating and sending a negative acknowledgment signal when the first interval portion of the interval i fails the error detection code check; and transmitting group B code symbols of the first vocoded frame using a second interval portion of an interval i+N.