A communication system comprising at least one working system for receiving a signal from a source, at least one protection system for receiving the signal from the source, a detection part for detecting an alarm state of the signals received via the working system and the protection system and for outputting an alarm signal if the alarm state is detected in at least one of the working system and the protection system, a switching part for selectively outputting the signal received via one of the working system and the protection system in response to a control signal which determines a connection of the switching part, and a control part for supplying the control signal to the switching part based on the alarm signals from the detection part. The control part disregards the alarm signals if the alarm signals are generated from the detection part with respect to the working system and the protection signal approximately at the same time.