A method comprising: establishing a communication session between a plurality of network nodes to enable the plurality of network nodes to exchange route updates with one another; during the communication session: detecting, at one of the network nodes, at least one route update to send to another one of the network nodes; compressing, at the network node, the route update to reduce an amount of data included in the route update wherein compressing the route update comprises: identifying a certain pattern of data included in the route update; and applying, to the route update, an adaptive compression algorithm that facilitates removal of the certain pattern of data from the route update; upon compressing the route update, sending the compressed route update to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the compressed route update; measuring a compression ratio of the adaptive compression algorithm; detecting, at the network node, at least one additional route update to send to the other network node; determining that an amount of data included in the additional route update exceeds a maximum threshold due at least in part to the compression ratio; and in response to determining that the amount of data exceeds the maximum threshold: refusing to compress the additional route update; and sending the additional route update without any compression to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the additional route update. establishing a communication session between a plurality of network nodes to enable the plurality of network nodes to exchange route updates with one another; during the communication session: detecting, at one of the network nodes, at least one route update to send to another one of the network nodes; compressing, at the network node, the route update to reduce an amount of data included in the route update wherein compressing the route update comprises: identifying a certain pattern of data included in the route update; and applying, to the route update, an adaptive compression algorithm that facilitates removal of the certain pattern of data from the route update; upon compressing the route update, sending the compressed route update to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the compressed route update; measuring a compression ratio of the adaptive compression algorithm; detecting, at the network node, at least one additional route update to send to the other network node; determining that an amount of data included in the additional route update exceeds a maximum threshold due at least in part to the compression ratio; and in response to determining that the amount of data exceeds the maximum threshold: refusing to compress the additional route update; and sending the additional route update without any compression to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the additional route update. detecting, at one of the network nodes, at least one route update to send to another one of the network nodes; compressing, at the network node, the route update to reduce an amount of data included in the route update wherein compressing the route update comprises: identifying a certain pattern of data included in the route update; and applying, to the route update, an adaptive compression algorithm that facilitates removal of the certain pattern of data from the route update; upon compressing the route update, sending the compressed route update to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the compressed route update; measuring a compression ratio of the adaptive compression algorithm; detecting, at the network node, at least one additional route update to send to the other network node; determining that an amount of data included in the additional route update exceeds a maximum threshold due at least in part to the compression ratio; and in response to determining that the amount of data exceeds the maximum threshold: refusing to compress the additional route update; and sending the additional route update without any compression to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the additional route update. refusing to compress the additional route update; and sending the additional route update without any compression to the other network node to enable the other network node to forward traffic along a path whose route is advertised in the additional route update.