A method performed by a wireless device , the method comprising: connecting, by the wireless device in station mode, to a gateway device of a wireless local area network, WLAN , wherein the gateway device operates as a mesh access point, MAP, and a bridge for the WLAN to a wide area network, WAN ; receiving, by the wireless device in station mode, from the gateway device , a mesh announcement message including a mesh-peer list, wherein the mesh-peer list includes information for pre-establishment of a mesh link, and a network identifier, NI, of a subnetwork of the WLAN , wherein the subnetwork is a mesh network; transmitting, by the wireless device in station mode, to the gateway device , a request message to join the subnetwork , wherein the subnetwork includes the gateway device and a first node that operates as a mesh AP for the WLAN ; receiving, by the wireless device in station mode, from the gateway device , a response message including a security credential for connecting to the subnetwork ; establishing, by the wireless device in station mode, based on the mesh announcement message, the security credential, and the NI, a first connection to the first node ; changing, by the wireless device , from station mode to mesh access point mode and operating, with the first node , as another mesh AP for the WLAN , wherein the first connection is a one-hop data-link layer connection; receiving, by the wireless device in mesh access point mode, data originating from a station, STA, that is connected to the WLAN via the wireless device , wherein the data has a destination outside of the WLAN ; and transmitting, by the wireless device in mesh access point mode, the data to the first node to communicate to the gateway device . connecting, by the wireless device in station mode, to a gateway device of a wireless local area network, WLAN , wherein the gateway device operates as a mesh access point, MAP, and a bridge for the WLAN to a wide area network, WAN ; receiving, by the wireless device in station mode, from the gateway device , a mesh announcement message including a mesh-peer list, wherein the mesh-peer list includes information for pre-establishment of a mesh link, and a network identifier, NI, of a subnetwork of the WLAN , wherein the subnetwork is a mesh network; transmitting, by the wireless device in station mode, to the gateway device , a request message to join the subnetwork , wherein the subnetwork includes the gateway device and a first node that operates as a mesh AP for the WLAN ; receiving, by the wireless device in station mode, from the gateway device , a response message including a security credential for connecting to the subnetwork ; establishing, by the wireless device in station mode, based on the mesh announcement message, the security credential, and the NI, a first connection to the first node ; changing, by the wireless device , from station mode to mesh access point mode and operating, with the first node , as another mesh AP for the WLAN , wherein the first connection is a one-hop data-link layer connection; receiving, by the wireless device in mesh access point mode, data originating from a station, STA, that is connected to the WLAN via the wireless device , wherein the data has a destination outside of the WLAN ; and transmitting, by the wireless device in mesh access point mode, the data to the first node to communicate to the gateway device . <EOS>