Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, instantiating a virtual provider edge router (VPE) of a network operator on a layer 3 public cloud network operated by a cloud operator, establishing a virtual layer 2 bridging domain over the layer 3 public cloud network between a core network of the network operator and the VPE, wherein the virtual layer 2 bridging domain shields infrastructure addressing of the core network of the network operator, and establishing an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) of the network operator on top of the virtual layer 2 bridging domain for layer 2 communication between the core network of the network operator and the VPE over the layer 3 public cloud network. Other embodiments are disclosed.