A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes identifying a bandwidth parameter associated with a network link. The method includes evaluating a bandwidth request associated with user equipment, the bandwidth request is associated with a session, which involves the user equipment and which implicates the network link. The bandwidth request can be modified based on the bandwidth parameter that was identified. In more detailed embodiments, one or more header extensions in one or more packets are evaluated in order to assist in identifying the bandwidth parameter. The one or more header extensions can include a selected one of packet sequence numbers, an average packet transmission rate, an average packet receiving rate, and a packet reception error rate. In other examples, modifying the bandwidth request can include downgrading the bandwidth request to lower a bit rate based on the bandwidth parameter identified for the network link.