A communication device includes an EHF communication unit, a data signal line, and a protocol bridge element. The EHF communication unit includes a transceiver, and an antenna coupled to the transceiver. The data signal line carries a data signal conforming to a first communication protocol. The protocol bridge element is coupled to the data signal line and EHF communication unit, and configured to receive a first protocol-compliant data signal from the data signal line, translate the first protocol-compliant data signal to an outbound binary signal, time-compress the outbound binary signal, and transmit the outbound time-compressed signal to the transceiver. The protocol bridge element is further configured to receive an inbound time-compressed signal from the transceiver, time-decompress inbound time-compressed signal to an inbound binary signal, translate inbound binary signal to conform to a second communication protocol, and provide second protocol-compliant signal to the first data signal line.