Tcpip can actually drop packets in extreme circumstances right?

I am getting anomolies on my basic client<>server networking architecture. I only get these anomolies on terribad cell phone data networks where latency can be 40,000ms +. I am thinking somewhere along the lines or in the air, tcpip is giving up transfer after 40 seconds of failure may be happening...

I read webpages that say tcpip is not perfect over terribly bad networks, but just want to hear it from a real person if a packet or two may be dropped over a terrible network such as spotty cell phone coverage.