rsync optionally compresses its data. That typically makes the transfer go much faster. See rsync -z.
You didn't mention scp, but scp -C also compresses.
Do note that compression might make the transfer go faster or slower, depending upon the speed of your CPU and of your network link. (Slower links and faster CPU make compression a good idea; faster links and slower CPU make compression a bad idea.) As with any optimization, measure the results in your own environment.
