A gateway device at a user premises edge of a wide area network implements a method for rapidly routing a media session. for an application layer service. The gateway device receivers a request from a first endpoint device to create the media session with a second device. The request includes an application layer identifier for the second device. The method involves accessing a routing table within the gateway device using the application layer identifier and obtaining, from the internal routing table a network layer address for communication with the second device. The gateway device then creates a route for the media session for the application layer service via bi-directional network layer communications through at least one of its interfaces using the network layer address.