N+N PROTECTION SWITCHING

A communication system comprises a plurality of DSL links comprising a first group and second group of DSL links, each group comprising more than one DSL link. The communication system also comprises a first node and a second node each having at least one application port and a plurality of DSL ports. Each DSL port is coupled to a respective one of the DSL links such that the first and second nodes are communicatively coupled via the DSL links. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave a first copy of data received over the respective application port across the first group and to interleave a second copy of the data across the second group. When a failure is detected on a DSL link in the first group, each of the first and second nodes is configured to switch from the first group to the second group.