Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for optimizing channel bandwidth usage in a communication network from a sender. In a particular embodiment, a method provides transmitting first data on a first data channel from the sender to a receiver at a first rate that does not exceed an available amount of bandwidth on the communication network. The method further provides determining that the first data channel is attempting to transmit at a second rate that is higher than the first rate. Also, the method provides continuing to transmit the first data on the first data channel while increasing from the first rate to the second rate in increments until either the second rate is achieved or the available amount of bandwidth is reached.