A method for reducing Internet bandwidth used for data transfer between an originating modem and an answering modem over a VoIP connection is provided. Idle data received from the originating modem is detected by an Internet node. The Internet node does not forward the detected received idle data over the VoIP connection. To keep the modem connection between the originating modem and the answering modem alive, the Internet node regenerates idle data and transmits the regenerated idle data to the answering modem upon detecting no data received for forwarding to the answering modem.