A communications system includes RF processing circuitry for receiving a plurality of data streams and processing the plurality of data streams to associate with each of the plurality of data streams an orthogonal function to cause each of the plurality of data streams to be mutually orthogonal to each other on an RF link to enable transmission of each of the plurality of data streams on the RF link at a same time. Optical processing circuitry receives the plurality of data streams and processes the plurality of data streams to associate with each of the plurality of data streams the orthogonal function to cause each of the plurality of data streams to be mutually orthogonal to each other on an optical link to enable transmission of each of the plurality of data streams on the optical link at a same time. Switching circuitry multiplexes between the RF link and the optical link responsive to operating conditions on the RF link and the optical link.