A data transmission apparatus is provided for sequentially transmitting data in units of packets each containing transmission data to the receiving end, the apparatus including: a reception unit for receiving the transmission data as an input signal; a packet formation unit for receiving the transmission data received, and forming an uncompressed packet in which predetermined transmission data is stored as uncompressed data, and a compressed packet in which at least a portion of transmission data that follows the predetermined transmission data is compressed and stored as compressed data; a reference information management unit for holding and managing, as reference information, information relating to the uncompressed packet formed by the packet formation unit; and a transmission unit for transmitting the respective packets formed by the packet formation unit, as a transmission signal, to the receiving end.