Chuted, optical packet distribution network

A packet distribution network having L network input ports and M network output ports for switching packets from said L network input ports to said M network output ports, where L and M are positive integers greater than two, said network comprising

• S stages of opto-electronic nodes, with each node of at least the first (S-1) of said nodes stages comprising an X.times.Y switching means, where S, X and Y are positive integers with S>3, X>1 and Y>1, and
• (S-1) optical link stages interconnecting successive ones of said S node stages, with each link stage comprising chute links and switch links,
• wherein the X.times.Y switching means of each node of at least the interior (S-2) of said S node stages receives packets on X switch links and selectively transmits packets on Y switch links,
• wherein said each node of said interior (S-2) node stages further comprises
• a plurality of chute connection means each connected to only one chute link of the preceding link stage and to only one chute link of the following link stage, for transmitting a packet, being received from said preceding stage chute link, onto said following stage chute link, and
• means for transferring a packet, being received on a switch link by the X.times.Y switching means of said each node of said interior (S-2) node stages, to any selected one of said plurality of chute connection means for transmission on the following stage chute link.