Methods and systems for routing messages between a core network and a radio network controller are provided. A radio access network gateway translates messages from an ATM-based protocol to a non-ATM-based protocol, such as the stream control transmission protocol and vice versa. The radio access network gateway forwards the SCTP messages to the core network. In addition, the radio access network gateway receives messages from the core network formatted according to the core network protocol and translates these messages to an ATM-based protocol for communication to a radio network controller.