Abstract: A method and system for allocating bandwidth in an optical communication system. During a set-up phase, a set-up message including requesting a connection is generated and includes a requested priority and requested bandwidth. When a switch receives the set-up message, the switch determines whether the available priority bandwidth for the requested priority exceeds the requested bandwidth. If the available priority bandwidth for the requested priority exceeds the requested bandwidth, the switch creates a provisional connectional which is committed to an actual connection in a subsequent connect phase. If the available priority bandwidth for the requested priority does not exceed the requested bandwidth, then the switch rejects the connection to provide a fast release.