A method for balancing the load of requests from a number of network devices for service from a selected one of a number of service providers, the devices and the service providers being interconnected by a network, and a network device and a network for carrying out such method. The device stores a location code representative of the devices geographic location and a table relating location codes and network addresses for the service providers. At least the approximate distance from the geographic location of the device and a service provider can be determined from their respective location codes. To send a request the device uses the table to identify the network address of the closest service provider and attempts to log-on to that service provider.