A compound cellular network that accommodates multiple cellular communication protocols, the system comprising: a standalone network portion of a first cellular network comprising a plurality of anchor points, wherein: the standalone network portion is configured to operate according to only a first cellular communication protocol; the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) are geographically distributed; each anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is a cellular network core component configured to serve as a gateway for a user equipment to communicate with an external data network; and which anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is configured to serve as the gateway for the user equipment is configured to be varied based on latency or load; a converged core network portion of the first cellular network, comprising a converged anchor point distinct from the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3), wherein: the converged core network portion is configured to operate according to the first cellular communication protocol and a second cellular communication protocol; when the user equipment connects with a separate, second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol, the user equipment is locked to the converged anchor point of the converged core network portion of the first cellular network as the gateway with the external data network, such that the user equipment uses the converged anchor point to access the external data network for the duration of time that the user equipment is connected with the second cellular network; and wherein the converged core network portion is located near a geographical edge of the compound cellular network such that beyond the geographical edge, the user equipment roams on the second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol. a standalone network portion of a first cellular network comprising a plurality of anchor points, wherein: the standalone network portion is configured to operate according to only a first cellular communication protocol; the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) are geographically distributed; each anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is a cellular network core component configured to serve as a gateway for a user equipment to communicate with an external data network; and which anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is configured to serve as the gateway for the user equipment is configured to be varied based on latency or load; the standalone network portion is configured to operate according to only a first cellular communication protocol; the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) are geographically distributed; each anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is a cellular network core component configured to serve as a gateway for a user equipment to communicate with an external data network; and which anchor point of the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3) is configured to serve as the gateway for the user equipment is configured to be varied based on latency or load; a converged core network portion of the first cellular network, comprising a converged anchor point distinct from the plurality of anchor points (212-1, 212-2, 212-3), wherein: the converged core network portion is configured to operate according to the first cellular communication protocol and a second cellular communication protocol; when the user equipment connects with a separate, second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol, the user equipment is locked to the converged anchor point of the converged core network portion of the first cellular network as the gateway with the external data network, such that the user equipment uses the converged anchor point to access the external data network for the duration of time that the user equipment is connected with the second cellular network; and wherein the converged core network portion is located near a geographical edge of the compound cellular network such that beyond the geographical edge, the user equipment roams on the second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol. the converged core network portion is configured to operate according to the first cellular communication protocol and a second cellular communication protocol; when the user equipment connects with a separate, second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol, the user equipment is locked to the converged anchor point of the converged core network portion of the first cellular network as the gateway with the external data network, such that the user equipment uses the converged anchor point to access the external data network for the duration of time that the user equipment is connected with the second cellular network; and wherein the converged core network portion is located near a geographical edge of the compound cellular network such that beyond the geographical edge, the user equipment roams on the second cellular network configured to use the second cellular communication protocol.