D(WDM) communications network employing periodic spectral multiplex processing

A WDM network (R) comprises an optical fiber (F) connected to a hub (H) via an input of a demultiplexer (DX) having N outputs to communications stations (Si-Sn) able to deliver and/or receive spectral multiplexes of modulated optical signals with different wavelengths, via coupling means (CP, CP', MXB). The communications stations (Sn-1) are adapted to deliver spectral multiplexes of modulated optical signals from a given one of P disjoint bands of wavelengths. At least one of the coupling means (MXB) is a 2x1 band multiplexer comprising i) an output connected to a downstream portion of the optical fiber (F), ii) a first input connected to one of the stations (then referred to as the "primary" station) and adapted to its band of wavelengths, and iii) a second input connected to an upstream portion of the optical fiber (F) and adapted to channels having wavelengths different from those of the channels passing through the first input. The demultiplexer (DX) is of periodic type so as to deliver at each of its N outputs channels whose wavelengths belong to distinct sets of P wavelengths each belonging to a distinct one of the P disjoint bands.