Method and system for protecting against communication loss in an optical network system

A system for protecting against communication loss in an optical network system comprising:

• a first subscriber optical interface forming part of a primary communication path, the first subscriber optical interface for receiving downstream optical signals and converting them into an electrical domain, and for converting electrical signals into upstream optical signals;
• the first subscriber optical interface comprising a signal state detector for sensing if the primary communication path is available to support optical communications;
• a control circuit coupled to the signal state detector and a data switch;
• and the control circuit determining if the primary communication path is not available to support optical communications;
• if the primary communication path is not available, then the control circuit instructs the data switch to re-route data from the primary communication path to a secondary communication path exiting the subscriber optical interface which is available for supporting optical communications, a second subscriber optical interface coupled to the secondary communication path and coupled to the first subscriber optical interface via an electrical connection, the second subscriber optical interface for receiving downstream optical signals and converting them into an electrical domain, and for converting electrical signals into upstream optical signals, each subscriber optical interface comprising a protocol adapter for translating signals from an optical network protocol to signals propagated according to an electrical network protocol, wherein the primary and secondary communication paths comprise separate passive optical networks (PONs).