Machine-to-machine network optimization and online charging

A non-transitory computer readable medium for granting data resources to one or more subscribers belonging to a group in a communications network comprising a network node configured to:

• receive a request to create an online charging session, wherein the request identifies a designated user group (“DUG”), which is associated with one or more subscribers;
• determine whether the DUG is associated with an existing online charging session;
• if no existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, sending a message, which identifies the DUG, to an online charging node to request a new online charging session and receiving from the online charging node policy data that is assigned to the DUG;
• if an existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, retrieving policy data previously assigned to the DUG;
• and
• grant data resources to the one or more subscribers based on the policy data, wherein the data resources are shared by the one or more subscribers.