Systems and methods for providing load based optimizations in communication networks are provided. A network device that provides network management and exchanges control messages with other network devices in the communication network can be modified to masquerade as a radio access transceiver to obtain radio access transceiver load information. The network device can be modified to include a radio-related interface and can communicate messages with the radio access transceivers to setup a radio access transceiver connection for exchange of load information. The radio access transceiver load information can then be used in the core network to provide optimizations for the loaded radio access transceivers. The optimizations can include modifying packet flows to decrease the bandwidth needed and switching one or more packet flows to another radio access transceiver.