Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and transmitting data across a network. Packets of data are received. The packets of data are combined based on packet header destination information to form a first combined file. The first combined file is compressed to form a first compressed file. The first compressed file is transmitting across the network. The first compressed file is repacketized to form a repacketized first compressed file and the repacketized first compressed file is transmitted across the network. The packets combined to form the first combined file have headers addressed to the same first subnetwork and the first subnetwork comprises a plurality of users. Headers addressed to the first subnetwork are inserted on the packets of the repacketized first compressed file. A second group of packets of data with headers addressed to a second subnetwork is selected. the second group of packets of data is combined to form a second combined file. The second combined file is compressed and transmitted.