There is described a system for modifying messages having an archive format in a communications network, the communications network comprising a first network device, a second network device and a third network device. The system comprises receiving, at the first network device, a message, the message sent from the second network device for receipt by the third network device; selectively modifying, at the first network device, content of the received message that is in an archive format, based on a determination that the content can be optimized, sending the received message with the optimized content to the third network device.