diff --git a/lattica/src/network/core.rs b/lattica/src/network/core.rs
index 9bd6140..ad11e3b 100644
--- a/lattica/src/network/core.rs
+++ b/lattica/src/network/core.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use chrono::Utc;
 use cid::Cid;
 use fnv::FnvHashMap;
 use futures::io::WriteHalf;
-use futures::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+use futures::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, future::join_all};
 use libp2p::{
     Multiaddr, PeerId, Stream, Swarm, SwarmBuilder,
     futures::StreamExt,
@@ -814,36 +814,77 @@ impl Lattica {
         Err(anyhow!("Failed to reconnect to peer {}", peer_id))
     }
 
-    async fn ensure_direct_connection(&self, peer_id: &PeerId, timeout: Duration) -> Result<()> {
-        // check swarm
+    /// Ensure known data peers are connected (concurrent)
+    /// Note: Bootstrap and relay connections are managed by the global reconnect_timer in swarm_poll
+    async fn ensure_network_connected(&self) {
+        // Check known peers from address book
+        let address_book = self.address_book.read().await;
+        let known_peers = address_book.peers();
+        drop(address_book);
+
+        let mut peer_reconnect_futures = Vec::new();
+        for peer_id in known_peers.iter() {
+            // Skip bootstrap and relay nodes (handled by global timer)
+            let is_infra = self.config.bootstrap_nodes.iter().any(|addr| {
+                addr.iter().last() == Some(Protocol::P2p(*peer_id))
+            }) || self.config.relay_servers.iter().any(|addr| {
+                addr.iter().last() == Some(Protocol::P2p(*peer_id))
+            });
+            if is_infra {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            let peer_id = *peer_id;
+            peer_reconnect_futures.push(async move {
+                self.ensure_peer_connected(&peer_id, Duration::from_secs(5)).await
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Execute all reconnections concurrently
+        if !peer_reconnect_futures.is_empty() {
+            let peer_count = peer_reconnect_futures.len();
+            tracing::info!("Checking {} data peers concurrently...", peer_count);
+
+            // Run all concurrently with overall timeout
+            let _ = tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(10), async {
+                let peer_results = join_all(peer_reconnect_futures).await;
+                let peer_success = peer_results.iter().filter(|r| r.is_ok()).count();
+                tracing::info!("Connection check complete: {}/{} peers", peer_success, peer_count);
+            }).await;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Ensure a peer is connected, attempting reconnection if needed
+    async fn ensure_peer_connected(&self, peer_id: &PeerId, timeout: Duration) -> Result<()> {
         let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
         self.cmd.try_send(Command::CheckConnection(*peer_id, tx))?;
         let is_connected = rx.await.unwrap_or(false);
 
         if !is_connected {
-            // try reconnect
-            tracing::debug!(
-                "Peer {} is not connected, attempting to reconnect...",
-                peer_id
-            );
+            tracing::debug!("Peer {} is not connected, attempting to reconnect...", peer_id);
             self.try_reconnect_peer(peer_id, timeout).await?;
 
-            // verify status
+            // Verify reconnection succeeded
             let (tx2, rx2) = oneshot::channel();
             self.cmd.try_send(Command::CheckConnection(*peer_id, tx2))?;
             let reconnected = rx2.await.unwrap_or(false);
 
             if !reconnected {
-                return Err(anyhow!(
-                    "Failed to establish connection to peer {}",
-                    peer_id
-                ));
+                return Err(anyhow!("Failed to establish connection to peer {}", peer_id));
             }
 
             tracing::info!("Successfully reconnected to peer {}", peer_id);
         }
 
-        // check direct connection
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Ensure a direct (non-relayed) connection to a peer
+    async fn ensure_direct_connection(&self, peer_id: &PeerId, timeout: Duration) -> Result<()> {
+        // First ensure the peer is connected
+        self.ensure_peer_connected(peer_id, timeout).await?;
+
+        // Then verify it's a direct connection (not relayed)
         let address_book = self.address_book.read().await;
         if let Some(info) = address_book.info(peer_id) {
             let has_direct = info.addresses().any(|(_, _, _, is_relayed, _)| !is_relayed);
@@ -1091,6 +1132,9 @@ impl Lattica {
         address_book.info(peer_id)?.rtt()
     }
 
+    /// Get a block from the network
+    /// 
+    /// On timeout, this method will trigger reconnection for subsequent retries.
     pub async fn get_block(
         &self,
         cid: &Cid,
@@ -1112,10 +1156,14 @@ impl Lattica {
                 Err(anyhow!("Receiver channel closed"))
             }
             Err(_) => {
-                // Timeout occurred, cancel the query
+                // Timeout - cancel query and trigger reconnection for next attempt
                 if let Some(qid) = query_id {
                     let _ = self.cmd.try_send(Command::CancelGet(qid));
                 }
+
+                // Trigger bootstrap reconnection in background for next retry
+                let _ = self.ensure_network_connected().await;
+
                 Err(anyhow!(
                     "get_block timeout: block not found or request timed out after {:?}",
                     timeout