In one example embodiment, an apparatus is provided and includes a network device that identifies a data type of a payload of a data packet to be transmitted. The network device adapts one or more of data transmission rates according to the data type that was identified. A control portion of the data packet is used to identify the data type. In more specific embodiments, the data transmission rates are controlled by one or more link layer configuration parameters, which are controlled according to the identified data type of the data packet. In still other embodiments, the network device identifies data packets with payloads relating to Intra-coded picture frames (I-frames), Predicted pictures frames (P-frames), and Bi-directional predictive pictures frames (B-frames).