To go one level deeper than the device level, wireless operators use network intelligence technology, such as Alcatel's or Sandvine's , to learn about the packets of data that mobile devices send and receive from the network.

Every data packet that flows through the network includes a "header" filled with 'metadata' about the packet. This 'metadata' includes details such as the origin and destination of the packet, the protocol (IP) used by the packet, whether or not the packet contains data from a real-time service like VoIP, and the amount of data in the packet. The header gives the operator a rough idea of what the content is for, without disclosing any actual details of the content itself.

The wireless operator can use this header data to help it tailor its service to suit the needs of various users. For instance, after detecting that a packet flow is a real-time app like , the operator might give priority to delivering those packets over delivering other, less time-sensitive packets in the network. Meanwhile, the operator might assign a lower priority to packets containing data from an MP3 file being uploaded to a server. The subscriber might be doing this in the background and consequently not be especially concerned about the speed of the upload.

Network intelligence data may also enable operators to identify specific cells in which extremely bandwidth-hungry applications are heavily used. For instance, if becomes popular in the downtown area during business hours, the operator might increase the bandwidth available to the cell responsible for that area during that time period.