A network element includes one or more ports forming a plurality of optical carriers (Optical Tributary Signal (OTSi)) that transport a single Optical Transport Unit Cn (OTUCn) in a network; and circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more ports and configured to, subsequent to an optical carrier failure of the plurality of optical carriers, determine which services in the OTUCn are affected, cause signaling of a partial failure for the OTUCn and signaling a failure for the affected services, and cause adjustment of some or all of the affected services on non-failed optical carriers of the plurality of optical carriers.