A multiprotocol encapsulation forward error correction (MPE-FEC) frame comprising datagrams and FEC data is shown wherein an MPE encapsulator places datagrams in MPE sections and FEC data in MPE-FEC sections. A time slicing block forms a sequence of bursts and dividing the MPE-FEC frame between bursts, such that MPE sections are sent in at least two bursts. The time slicing block adds a burst number parameter to headers of the MPE and MPE-FEC sections to enable a terminal to determine whether to expect further bursts carrying data from the MPE-FEC frame.