1. A caching unit functionally associated with a gateway node of an access network, said unit comprising: a content characterization module to generate one or more characterization parameters of content received from an external content source, as the content enters said network through said gateway node; a cache repository to store content and characterization parameters of the stored content; a comparison module to compare generated characterization parameters with stored characterization parameters, wherein stored content whose characterization parameters match the generated characterization parameters is termed a matched content entity; a communication module to provide inter-caching communication between said caching unit and an additional caching unit; and a routing module configured to route a matched content entity to a client device associated with said gateway node and terminate a session with the external content source substantially when the matched content entity is routed to the client device.