A method transmits an L bit packet in a relay network including a source node, a relay node and a destination node. The source node partitions the packet into first fragment of βL bits and a second fragment of (1−β) bits. The first fragment is transmitted from the source node to the relay node at a first data rate during a first phase. The second fragment is transmitted from the source node to the destination node at a second data rate during a second phase while the first fragment is retransmitted from the relay node to the destination node at a third data rate.