A system and method for communications device and network component operation in an ID/Locator Split Based heterogeneous network is provided. A method for control node operation includes receiving an attach request, and attempting to authenticate/authorize the communications node. The attach request is a request from a communications node to attach to a heterogeneous network. The method also includes if the communications node authenticated/authorized successfully, causing an identification and a location to be assigned for the communications node, completing an attachment for the communications node, and transmitting information to the communications node. The method further includes if the communications node did not authenticate/authorize successfully, sending an attach reject message to the communications node. The identification and the location are separate values.