An ordered registration of a mobile station (MS) is initiated by a radio access network that includes a base station (BS) in communication with a downstream network entity. The downstream entity conveys a message to the BS requesting that the MS be instructed to register. The BS then transmits a message to the MS that instructs the MS to register. In response to receiving the registration instruction, the MS transmits a registration message to the BS. Upon receiving a registration message, the BS conveys a message to the downstream entity requesting an update of a location of the MS. The downstream network entity updates the MS's location and conveys a message to the BS confirming an updating of the location of the MS. In another embodiment of the present invention, the MS can initiate a user-zone based registration by conveying a user-zone based registration message to the BS.