Caching for end-user systems to reduce usage of access links to a communication network

A method of operating an access system to host a file for an end-user system, wherein the end-user system is coupled to the access system over an access link and wherein the access system is coupled to a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving the file from the end-user system over the access link;
• in response to receiving the file, determining whether the end-user system uses an end-user file-sharing protocol;
• when the end-user system uses an end-user file-sharing protocol, establishing a cache for the end-user system and storing the file in the cache in the access system;
• receiving a message into the access system from the communication network, wherein the message requests the file from the end-user system;
• in response to the message, determining if the file is allowed to be transferred to the communication network from the cache in the access system;
• and
• if the file is allowed to be transferred to the communication network from the cache in the access system, then notifying the end-user system that the file will be transferred from the cache in the access system to the communication network and transferring the file from the access system to the communication network.