A system and method are provided for transferring a set of data over a network by monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization. The method identifies a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculates a threshold level of utilization as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization. If the actual level of utilization is less than the threshold level, at least a portion or segment of the data is received over the network. Each time a portion of the data is received, the monitoring step is repeated and a counter is incremented. The size of the discrete portions of the data is a function of the value of the counter and is increased when the value of the counter is greater than a predetermined value.