A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. The method further includes suppressing a selected one or more of the samples if the selected samples are similar to previously received samples and interleaving one or more voice data segments associated with a voice call into outgoing Internet protocol (IP) traffic flows. In more particular embodiments, packets that do not come in from a GSM port on the cell site element are designated as default best effort (BE) traffic.