Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical backplane for use in a switching system or computer for interconnecting a plurality of associated circuit modules. The backplane comprises a switch which is interconnected to each of the associated circuit modules by a separate multifiber ribbon, each ribbon including (1) a plurality of transmit and receive optical fibers, and (2) an optical fiber for providing concurrent synchronization signals to each of the associated circuit modules. The switch includes a switching block for coupling parallel optical signals received from the plurality of receive optical fibers in any multifiber ribbon, transmitted by a sending module, to the transmit fibers of each of the multifiber ribbons for transmission to all of the modules associated with the optical backplane.