The present invention enables populating one or more M2M-relevant identities in an access network when establishing an access bearer between the access network and an M2M device for connecting the M2M device with an M2M service provider (SP). The teachings herein provide, on the device side, for transmitting one or more selected M2M identifiers from an M2M device during the bearer establishment procedure. On the network side, the teachings herein provide for receiving the selected M2M identifier(s) during the bearer establishment procedure, associating them with the access bearer being established, and recording them as being associated with the access bearer. While such M2M identifiers have no specific meaning in the access network domain, one of the advantages of the teachings herein is that the recorded M2M identifiers can be used for improved billing reconciliation between the access network provider and the M2M SP.