Internet protocol tunneling on a mobile network

Systems and methods are provided for sending information in a first protocol over a network that supports a second protocol. A tunnel is used to provide a roaming mobile node with IPv6 packet data over an IPv4 core network. When the mobile node is handed off while roaming, the same IP address is provided to the mobile node and the IPv6 packet data is again tunneled over the IPv4 core network. Certain embodiments allow an IPv4 core network to support a mobile node that uses Simple IPv6 or MIPv6 addressing. This system and method can be applicable to situations where the mobile node uses addressing greater than 32 bits, while the core network supports 32 bit addressing.