A method for compressing data is provided that includes receiving a packet communicated by a mobile station and extracting a high-level data link control (HDLC) payload from the packet. A compression operation may then be performed on the HDLC payload in order to reduce a number of bytes associated with the packet. A key may be built that maps the HDLC payload associated with the packet to the key, the key being broken into segments that are positioned into a selected one or more of a source internet protocol (IP) address field, a user datagram protocol (UDP) source port field, and a UDP destination port field of a UDP packet. Remaining fields of the HDLC payload may be copied and positioned into a payload field of the UDP packet. The UDP packet may then be communicated to a routing functionality such that it may be directed to a next destination.