Optical wavelength router

An optical wavelength router receives multiplexed bundles of wavelength channels from input optical fibers, processes the channels, and outputs the processed channels onto output optical fibers. The router separates one or more of the channels from the received bundles and couples the separated channels into a switching fabric. The remaining, i.e., pass-through, channels are multiplexed with wavelength-converted "add" signals and input into channel combiners. The outputs of the switching fabric may be "dropped," or coupled to the channel combiners for multiplexing with the pass-through and the add channels. A second switching fabric may be interposed between the output ports of the channel combiners and the output fibers, and a redundant path through the router may be included for path fault protection.