A method and apparatus for downloading a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) web page over a wireless link that couples a modem to a gateway. A transmission control protocol (TCP) link is opened between the gateway and the modem. A HTTP uniform resource identifier (URI) is received at the modem from a web browser, where the HTTP URI corresponds to the HTTP web page of an origin server. The TCP link is configured well before the web browser provides the URI. The HTTP URI is sent to the gateway. An Internet protocol (IP) address is determined for a domain name indicated in the HTTP URI by the gateway. The HTTP web page is retrieved by the gateway using the Internet, without the modem requesting it. The HTTP web page is transmitted to the satellite modem. Objects referenced in the HTTP web page are accessed similarly to the HTTP web page, but objects can also be accessed in parallel. In some cases, bandwidth is scaled for the TCP link according to loading of the modem.