Abstract: A technique for enabling an over-the-air functional entity to authenticate itself to a wireless terminal and to provide new parameters to the wireless terminal is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the over-the-air functional entity is primarily responsible for updating the parameters in the wireless terminal. But if the wireless terminal requests evidence of the over-the-air functional entity's authority to provide the new parameters, the wireless terminal's home wireless telecommunications system prepares the appropriate credentials on behalf of the over-the-air functional entity. The over-the-air functional entity then use these credentials for authenticating itself to the wireless terminal.