Methods and apparatus for creation, advertisement, and discovery of peer-to-peer overlay networks. A method includes detecting one or more communication links that allow a node to communicate with other nodes, determining that a universal overlay network is accessible using at least one communication link, selecting a selected communication link from the at least one communication link, and joining the universal overlay network using the selected communication link. An apparatus includes a transceiver configured to detect one or more communication links that allow a node to communicate with other nodes, and a processor configured to determine that a universal overlay network is accessible using at least one communication link, select a selected communication link from the at least one communication link, and join the universal overlay network using the selected communication link.