Free-space optical communication system with spatial multiplexing

The present invention relates to free-space optical communication systems and may be used for wireless/fiberless two-way information transfer between remote objects, including situations with many objects participating in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint information exchanges. A free-space optical communication system utilizes an optical repeater system, which is installed between transmitting terminals and receiving terminals. Each optical receiver of the repeater system connects via a separate optical beam with one or more of the transmitting terminals. Two or more optical transmitters of the repeater system preferably communicate with each of the receiving terminals. Modules of the repeater system are spatially separated far enough from each other to prevent cross-talk between information on the beams, either at the receivers of the repeating system or at the receiving terminals. Receiving elements in the repeater system and/or in the destination receiving system preferably convert angular beam separation into spatial resolution between beam detectors.