A network controller for a mesh network of routers in a communication system. The network controller automatically monitors the mesh network; determines to add one or more new software-based routers to the mesh network; provisions one or more programmable resources to be the one or more new software-based routers in the mesh network; and configures the one or more new software-based router to support one or more new paths through the mesh network. In some implementations, the controller automatically accesses one or more corresponding OEM libraries to retrieve one or more configuration protocols for the one or more programmable resources and uses the one or more retrieved configuration protocols to provision the one or more programmable resources using NFV and SDN technologies and configure the one or more new software-based routers. The controller may also automatically decommission one or more existing software-based routers from the network when appropriate.