Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device in which a processing system receives an electromagnetic signal including a plurality of packets, stores a copy of the packets in a memory, converts the signal to an optical signal, and splits the optical signal into first and second optical signals each including the packets. A first converter and second converter then convert the optical signals to electromagnetic signals. A timing coordinator sends a timing signal to the memory and to the first and second converters, resulting in simultaneous release of a copied packet from the memory and first and second packets from the first and second converters. The system compares the copied packet with the first and second packets; if those packets are identical to the copied packet, the system outputs the first and second packets in outgoing signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.