In order to reduce the delay and/or loss of packets caused by the transmission through a large number of routers on the Internet, a direct connection is established between a client (or its proxy) and a server if the client (or its proxy) and the server are connected to the same alternative subnetwork. Control management information, including the type of subnetwork to which each is connected, as well as the address of the client (or its proxy) and the server are transmitted to the other on the Internet in an optional HTTP header field. After receipt of the addressing information, a direct connection is established on the alternative subnetwork between the client (or its proxy) and the server for purposes of streaming information from the server to the client.