In general, techniques are described for emulating mobile authentication methods to establish authenticated connectivity between a mobile service provider gateway and a wireless device attached to an alternate access network. For example, a system operating according to the described techniques includes a mobile service provider network, an alternate access network having an access gateway, and an authentication server of the mobile service provider network that receives a network access request. A subscriber database responds to the network access request with virtual mobility information, wherein the network access request does not include an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and wherein the virtual mobility information comprises a virtual IMSI. The access gateway uses the virtual mobility information to signal a mobile network gateway of the mobile service provider network to establish a service session for the wireless device over the alternate access network that is anchored by the mobile network gateway.