Improved capabilities are described for increasing the bandwidth in a wireless communication network, such as where local optimization servers and centralized optimization servers are connected to a communication network, and wherein at least one wireless RF access node comprises a scheduler for providing uplink and downlink air interface access to the plurality of mobile devices that access the at least one wireless RF access node. The local optimization server may include an application priority service that interfaces with the scheduler to convey to the scheduler an air interface data rate priority value that is assigned to a first mobile device, wherein the scheduler provides uplink and downlink air interface access to the first mobile device based at least in part on the air interface data rate priority value. A topic carried in each data packet that traverses a publish-subscribe broker network may be used by first and the second publish-subscribe broker communication facilities to determine how to route each data packet, and the topic may also be used to identify the application associated with the data packet and to determine the data rate priority value corresponding to the identified application.