An optical transport network signal (OTM) comprising at least one optical channel is received at a first network equipment. The optical transport network signal (OTM) is processed to extract optical data units (ODUk) for each optical channel (OCh). There is detection for defects during the processing. The optical data units are retransmitted within optical transport units (OTUk) towards a second network equipment. When a defect has been detected, the retransmitting comprises inserting an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) in an optical channel transport unit (OTUk) containing optical channel data units (ODUk) that are affected by the detected defect. The second network equipment detects for the presence of the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) and generation of an alarm is inhibited for any optical channel data units (ODUk) contained within the optical channel transport unit that comprises the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS). The network equipments can comprise a WDM or DWDM equipment and a cross-connect.