In packet communication, when applying end-to-end control protocol such as the fourth layer protocol of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI), a large delay existing in only a portion within the network gives rise to an extreme drop in throughput. The present invention is intended to avoid this problem without altering the fourth layer protocol. This network is structured such that a sending terminal and a receiving terminal are connected by a plurality of routers, and a portion of the routers have large propagation delay. Each router is constructed from a virtual terminal controller that, from the time connection is established until disconnection of the communication circuit, operates identically to the opposing terminal upon receiving a signal from the terminal to which it is connected; a memory circuit that stores data upon reception of the data; and a data link controller that raises throughput of a circuit having large delay. Accordingly, because transmission of succeeding data can be carried out by receiving an ACK signal from the router connected to the sending terminal without waiting for the ACK signal response from the receiving terminal, gaps in transmission are reduced and the influence of intermediate circuits having large propagation delay can be avoided.