A system includes a first control node, the first control node configured to establish communication sessions between endpoints. The system further includes a second control node, the second control node configured to establish communication sessions between endpoints. The system further includes a first bearer node comprising a first media gateway having a first virtual media gateway and a second virtual media gateway, the first virtual media gateway configured to provide access to media resources of the first bearer node to the first control node and the second virtual media gateway configured to provide access to media resources of the first bearer node to the second control node.