Self-healing configuration for delivering data services on a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network

When a cable or equipment failure interrupts delivery of data services being transmitted to subscriber clients located in a first access area on a modulated RF carrier signal over a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network, at least one channel within the roll-off spectrum above the passband of the coaxial amplifiers in the network is used as a protection data channel to supply these data services to the affected subscriber clients via an alternate signal path through an adjoining second access area. The data channel within the passband is upconverted to the roll-off spectrum and transmitted through the adjoining second access area which is interconnected to the first access area through a plurality of protection units. Each protection unit interconnects a side leg within each access area. When data service is interrupted to subscriber clients connected to a leg in the first area, the protection data channel is transmitted through the second access area to the protection unit connected to affected leg in the first area. The protection unit then downconverts the protection data channel to its normal carrier frequency within the passband and supplies it to the affected clients in the first access area, thereby restoring the subscribed-to data services to the subscribers.