Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of ingress ports, a wavelength blocker array, a plurality of egress ports, a plurality of degree drop ports, a plurality of degree add ports, and a wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array. The wavelength blocker array has plurality of wavelength blocking units, each wavelength blocking unit is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of ingress ports. The wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array includes a plurality of 2×2 independently switched 2×2 wavelength selective cross-connect switches, where the WSX array is coupled to the wavelength blocker array, the plurality of egress ports, the plurality of degree drop ports, and the plurality of degree add ports.

Abstract: An apparatus includes N 1×2 ingress tap couplers, a wavelength blocker array, N 2×1 egress tap couplers, and a wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array. A tapped branch of each ingress tap coupler is coupled to a degree drop and where N>1. The wavelength blocker array has N wavelength blocking units, each wavelength blocking unit coupled to a corresponding one of the N 1×2 ingress tap couplers. A tapped branch of each egress tap coupler is coupled to a degree add. The wavelength selective cross-connect (WSX) array is coupled between the wavelength blocker array and the N 2×1 egress tap couplers, where the WSX array includes a plurality of independently switched 2×2 WSX switches.