Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna system that includes a selector and a dielectric antenna array. The selector is coupled to a number of dielectric cores and selectively launches electromagnetic waves on a selected dielectric core of the dielectric cores. The selected dielectric core corresponds to one of the dielectric cores, and the electromagnetic waves propagate along the selected dielectric core without requiring an electrical return path. The dielectric antenna array is coupled to the dielectric cores and includes a number of dielectric antennas, wherein a dielectric antenna of the dielectric antennas transmits, in response to the electromagnetic waves received from the selected dielectric core, a controllable beam. Other embodiments are disclosed.