IssueTracker

As of Android 4.1 there is a setting where a user can define Mobile Hotspots. If the user is connected to one of those networks, ConnectivityManager.isActiveNetworkMetered() returns true.

But it is not possible to get this information for other (known) networks, for example via WifiConfiguration.

I've looked through the AOSP Settings app to see how it is handled by the system and it turns out is done via android.net.NetworkPolicyManager. But you need permissions (MANAGE_NETWORK_POLICY) that are not available for non-system apps. I'd like to be able to access it.

Also see stackoverflow: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24514387/how-to-detect-if-a-network-is-configured-as-a-mobile-hotspot-on-android

Pseudocode: (I did some serious shortcuts but I think the point will come accross)

activeNetworkIsMetered = ConnectivityManager.isActiveNetworkMetered();
if (activeNetworkIsMetered) {
  // Look for better networks
  wifiCfgs = WifiManager.getConfiguredNetworks();
  scanResults = WifiManager.getScanResults();
  for (int i=0; i<scanResults.size(); i++) {
    if (wifiCfgs.contains(scanResults.get(i)) {
      // configured network in range, is it metered?
      if (!wifiCfgs.getByValue(scanResults.get(i)).isNetworkMetered()) {
        // Better network found, connect to it
        WifiManager.enableNetwork(scanResults.get(i).networkID,true);
      }
    }
  }
}