System and method for recovering and restoring lost data in a N-channel coherent data transmission system

A method and apparatus for use where an incoming high speed data stream is first divided into N lower bandwidth channels and is then transmitted through the network to a receiver where it arrives with varying delays depending on the physical characteristics of the network. The high speed data stream is reconstructed by determining the different geographical delay parameters among the lower speed channels, by adjusting the transmission delays by alignment circuitry, and then by combining the lower speed signals into one high bandwidth channel. When one of the lower speed channels fails, the bandwidth is automatically re-adjusted using the remaining N-1 lines. When the failed channel is restored to an acceptable level of service, the communication protocol automatically re-adjusts the bandwidth to the full N channels. When the network indicates the loss of a line, the multiplexers at both ends of the link automatically compensate for the loss without any message exchange. When the line is restored, the multiplexers at both ends of the link automatically re-adjust the bandwidth.