A system and method for modifying the size of data packets transmitted over a packet network in a manner that avoids overloading of the network. The system and method involves monitoring one or more parameters indicative of an amount of bandwidth being utilized on the packet network, responsive to the monitoring, determining that a level of bandwidth utilization on the packet network has changed, responsive to the determination that the level of bandwidth utilization on the packet network has changed, issuing a command to change the size of packets used for carrying data from a first packet size to a second packet size.