In a computer-implemented method for reducing delay of bursty data transmission in a network employing a congestion control protocol, data is accessed that is to be periodically transmitted over a network employing a congestion control protocol. The data is to be periodically transmitted with a high burst rate followed by an idle period. The congestion control protocol progressively increases a data transmission rate during a data transmission rate increase period invoked immediately following a predetermined idle period. Prior to transmitting the data, priming data is transmitted during at least a portion of the idle period until the congestion control protocol progressively increases the data transmission rate to a desired transmission rate. The data is transmitted at the desired transmission rate.