A method of improving the performance of an access network for coupling one or more user devices to an application server, the method comprising encoding, using one of one or more encoders, data using a network performance enhancing coding (NPEC); transmitting the encoded data; receiving the encoded data; decoding, using one of one or more decoders, the encoded data using the NPEC; and receiving the decoded data at either of the application server or the one or more user devices.