A system comprises a transmitter that generates a combined signal including a first group of optical signals and a second group of optical signals, the first group of optical signals comprising M+X number of optical signals in a first polarization mode, the second group of optical signals comprising N number of optical signals in a second polarization mode, wherein the number of N and M optical signals comprise payload signals, where the X number of optical signals comprises at least one first pilot signal. The system may further include a receiver comprising a polarization recovery device that receives the combined signal and that recovers, from the combined signal, the first group of optical signals with the first polarization mode and the second group optical signals with the second polarization mode based on feedback indicative of at least one signal characteristic of the at least one first pilot signal.