A method for executing end to end authentication in a network environment is provided that includes initiating a communications tunnel with a layer two tunnel protocol (L2TP) network server (LNS) and communicating an activate context request that includes an authentication protocol in a protocol configuration option (PCO) field, the activate context request being received by a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) that initiates a link control protocol (LCP) negotiation with the LNS, the GGSN being operable to communicate an activate context response that may be received by the mobile terminal. An authentication response may be calculated by using a secret value and a challenge value which is provided by the GGSN, the authentication response being used to establish a communication session associated with the mobile terminal.