A network operator can partition network elements, including elements of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) or Policy and Charging Rules Functions (PCRFs) into groups reserved for specific types of subscribers. When a user equipment (UE) registers with an IMS, elements of the IMS can contact a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) to determine a subscriber type associated with the UE. Based on the UE's subscriber type, an IMS element can determine an application server or other IMS element to contact about the UE based on identifying application servers or IMS elements that are also associated with the same subscriber type as the UE. Similarly, an IMS element can determine a PCRF to contact about the UE based on identifying a PCRF that is associated with the same subscriber type as the UE.