Abstract: A data packet format includes an important information field in a data packet header or payload, e.g., a transport format indication field including one or more indicating the transport format for the data packet. It also includes one or more error correction bits associated with the important information field, (e.g., the transport format indication field), usable by an error correction scheme at a receiver to correct errors in the received header. An error detection field in the data packet is used at the receiver to detect such bit errors. In one example implementation, the one or more error correction bits are positioned in spare or unused bit locations in the data packet. In a further implementation, one or more unused bits in the important data field are used to carry the one or more error correction bits.