Abstract: The invention relates to an optical communication system for transmitting subscriber-assigned information in both directions between a center (1) and a plurality of subscribers (3ato 3n), particularly to the subscriber loop of a broadband communication system. In a remote distribution facility which is of either distributed (FIG. 1) or lumped (FIG. 2) design, the optical waveguides (5ato 5n) of a group of subscribers living or working near each other are coupled to a common optical waveguide (4) (or to two common optical waveguides) connected to the center (1). Subscriber-assigned signals to be transmitted from the center to the subscribers are combined into an electric time-division-multiplex signal which is transmitted as an optical signal with a single wavelength (.lambda..sub.o) to the vicinity of the subscribers and distributed to the latter. From the electric time-division-multiplex signal, each of the subscribers takes only the signal intended for him.