A method implemented in a communication network associated with a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising: receiving, via a mobile service provider of the communication network, communication traffic from a given mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a first network address and a second network address are associated with the given mobile device, and wherein the communication traffic includes communication traffic from a first application associated with the first network address and a second application associated with the second network address; characterized by: determining, via the mobile service provider, that the first application and the second application tether the given mobile device and an additional mobile device such that Internet access is provided, via the given mobile device, to the additional mobile device; determining, via the mobile service provider, that the second application is not associated with a service subscription and the first application is associated with the service subscription; and in response to both of the determining, adjusting, via the mobile service provider, a quality of service to the given mobile device on an application-by-application basis including assigning a first quality of service to the first application and assigning a second quality of service to the second application based at least in part on the first and second network addresses (212; 214). receiving, via a mobile service provider of the communication network, communication traffic from a given mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a first network address and a second network address are associated with the given mobile device, and wherein the communication traffic includes communication traffic from a first application associated with the first network address and a second application associated with the second network address; characterized by: determining, via the mobile service provider, that the first application and the second application tether the given mobile device and an additional mobile device such that Internet access is provided, via the given mobile device, to the additional mobile device; determining, via the mobile service provider, that the second application is not associated with a service subscription and the first application is associated with the service subscription; and in response to both of the determining, adjusting, via the mobile service provider, a quality of service to the given mobile device on an application-by-application basis including assigning a first quality of service to the first application and assigning a second quality of service to the second application based at least in part on the first and second network addresses (212; 214). determining, via the mobile service provider, that the first application and the second application tether the given mobile device and an additional mobile device such that Internet access is provided, via the given mobile device, to the additional mobile device; determining, via the mobile service provider, that the second application is not associated with a service subscription and the first application is associated with the service subscription; and in response to both of the determining, adjusting, via the mobile service provider, a quality of service to the given mobile device on an application-by-application basis including assigning a first quality of service to the first application and assigning a second quality of service to the second application based at least in part on the first and second network addresses (212; 214).