A method performed by an enhanced node B eNB (204, 304, 404) comprising: detecting congestion at the eNB by performing operations comprising: identifying a Quality of Service Class Identifier QCI) delay for each of a plurality of downlink packets; determining whether the QCI delay for each of the plurality of downlink packets exceeds a delay threshold; sending a congestion indication message to a core network; and utilizing sub-quality of service class identifier (sub-QCI) packet dropping by performing operations comprising: receiving, from a user equipment UE (202, 302, 402), a first message to initiate sub-QCI packet dropping, the first message comprising a sub-QCI for a QCI; identifying a sub-QCI packet dropping delay threshold for the sub-QCI; testing whether a packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeds the sub-QCI delay threshold; and responsive to the packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeding the delay threshold, making a decision whether to drop the packet belonging to the sub-QCI, characterized in that detecting congestion additionally comprises: determining a start of a congestion period responsive to a start criteria; determining an end of the congestion period responsive to a number of consecutive downlink packets that do not exceed the delay threshold reaching a second count threshold; determining a length of the congestion period; and sending a congestion indication message to a core network when the length of the congestion period exceeds a first length threshold. detecting congestion at the eNB by performing operations comprising: identifying a Quality of Service Class Identifier QCI) delay for each of a plurality of downlink packets; determining whether the QCI delay for each of the plurality of downlink packets exceeds a delay threshold; sending a congestion indication message to a core network; and utilizing sub-quality of service class identifier (sub-QCI) packet dropping by performing operations comprising: receiving, from a user equipment UE (202, 302, 402), a first message to initiate sub-QCI packet dropping, the first message comprising a sub-QCI for a QCI; identifying a sub-QCI packet dropping delay threshold for the sub-QCI; testing whether a packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeds the sub-QCI delay threshold; and responsive to the packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeding the delay threshold, making a decision whether to drop the packet belonging to the sub-QCI, characterized in that identifying a Quality of Service Class Identifier QCI) delay for each of a plurality of downlink packets; determining whether the QCI delay for each of the plurality of downlink packets exceeds a delay threshold; sending a congestion indication message to a core network; and utilizing sub-quality of service class identifier (sub-QCI) packet dropping by performing operations comprising: receiving, from a user equipment UE (202, 302, 402), a first message to initiate sub-QCI packet dropping, the first message comprising a sub-QCI for a QCI; identifying a sub-QCI packet dropping delay threshold for the sub-QCI; testing whether a packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeds the sub-QCI delay threshold; and responsive to the packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeding the delay threshold, making a decision whether to drop the packet belonging to the sub-QCI, receiving, from a user equipment UE (202, 302, 402), a first message to initiate sub-QCI packet dropping, the first message comprising a sub-QCI for a QCI; identifying a sub-QCI packet dropping delay threshold for the sub-QCI; testing whether a packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeds the sub-QCI delay threshold; and responsive to the packet belonging to the sub-QCI exceeding the delay threshold, making a decision whether to drop the packet belonging to the sub-QCI, detecting congestion additionally comprises: determining a start of a congestion period responsive to a start criteria; determining an end of the congestion period responsive to a number of consecutive downlink packets that do not exceed the delay threshold reaching a second count threshold; determining a length of the congestion period; and sending a congestion indication message to a core network when the length of the congestion period exceeds a first length threshold. determining a start of a congestion period responsive to a start criteria; determining an end of the congestion period responsive to a number of consecutive downlink packets that do not exceed the delay threshold reaching a second count threshold; determining a length of the congestion period; and sending a congestion indication message to a core network when the length of the congestion period exceeds a first length threshold.