Embodiments of a method and apparatus for decoding signals are disclosed. The method includes receiving modulated signals, generating bits representing the signals, and associated reliability of each bit. The method further includes executing a first stage of decoding the bits using a first component code, and simultaneously executing the first stage of decoding again using a second component code, and executing a second stage of decoding using the first component code. The first and second stages of decoding are used to generate the bit stream. Another method includes receiving modulated signals, generating bits representing the signals, and associated reliability of each bit. The method further includes executing a first stage of N stages for decoding the bits, the first stage using a first of M component codes, and simultaneously executing a plurality of the N stages of decoding, each of the plurality of N stages using a different one of the M component codes. The plurality of N stages of decoding are used to generate the bit stream.