A system for relaying data based on a modified reliable transport protocol is provided. According to an aspect, a relay can receive a data packet sent in accordance with a reliable transport protocol. The relay processes the received packet in accordance with modified reliable protocol and relays the received packet. The modifications can be based on alterations to reliability mechanisms which improve communication characteristics of the protocol for real time communications and other time sensitive communications. The modified protocol is nevertheless compatible with the original reliable protocol so that relay can communicate, using the modified protocol with any network component using the unmodified protocol.