A network processing node (e.g., MGW, MRFP) and method are described herein that can: (1) receive packets on a first heterogeneous link (e.g., wireless link); (2) manipulate the received packets based on known characteristics about a second heterogeneous link (e.g., 'Internet' link); and (3) send the manipulated packets on the second heterogeneous link (e.g., 'Internet' link). For example, the network processing node can manipulate the received packets by adding redundancy, removing redundancy, frame aggregating (re-packetizing), recovering lost packets and/or re-transmitting packets.