Wavelength division multiplexed hybrid ring suitable for use in regional area networks

Disclosed is a wavelength division multiplexed hybrid ring formed from a plurality of telecommunications links that connect a plurality of switching nodes, each telecommunications link comprising: at least one optical fiber adapted for transporting a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed channels, wherein each of the plurality of optical channels is defined by a different wavelength; and at least one branching unit disposed along the at least one optical fiber, wherein the at least one branching unit includes at least one add-drop multiplexer for adding and dropping predetermined ones of the plurality of optical channels to and from a terminal coupled to the branching unit, and the branching unit is adapted to pass predetermined ones of the plurality of optical channels between the plurality of switching nodes.