A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes providing an Internet Protocol (IP) address based on an authentication request associated with a device, the authentication request being associated with a Wi-Fi protocol. The method also includes identifying a Wi-Fi event associated with the IP address, and mapping the Wi-Fi event to a WiMax event. Further, the method includes providing a WiMax message, which is based on the Wi-Fi event, to a network element. In other embodiments, the mapping further includes converting the Wi-Fi event to the WiMax message such that the WiMax message is presented to the network element in a WiMax format. The same IP address can be used for both the Wi-Fi event and the WiMax message. In yet other embodiments, the method includes communicating a disconnection request to the network element when the device moves from a Wi-Fi coverage area to a WiMax coverage area, mapping a new WiMax event to a new Wi-Fi event, and providing a Wi-Fi message, which is based on the new WiMax event, to the device.