A method for reducing authentication signaling in a wireless network includes identifying a plurality of access points in a network belonging to a group. An access request message is received from a first access point associated with a device being in range of the first access point. A determination is made whether the device has been authenticated within the group. A proxy accept message is sent to the to the first access point in response to the device being authenticated with the group without communicating with an authentication server for authentication of the device. A master access point may be used in performing the reduction of authentication signaling in the wireless network.