A method and apparatus for accelerating data transport through communication networks (e.g., the Internet) is taught. The data sources may include Internet web pages, electronic mails, computer files, digitized pictures, voice and video. The method combines smart content-based data compression schemes with intelligent routing to efficiently move information across a network. The apparatus works with existing communications protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, SMTP and POP3) and fits transparently with Internet browsing applications.