In an optical network a 1+1 bidirectional protection system is presented. Each node across a link has photodiodes to monitor the power of signals received by the node on receiving working and protection optical fibers and also optical switches connected to transmission working and protection optical fibers to modulate signals to its counterpart node across the link. When a node detects a fault in the receiving working optical fiber, not only does the node switch to the receiving protection optical fiber, but it also switches to the transmission protection optical fiber to signal the fault to the node across the link. The optical switches on transmission working and protection optical fibers allow the two nodes across the link to signal each other at a protocol-less or primary protocol level for the link to revert back to its initial state.