Abstract: A method and system for maximizing wavelength reuse in an optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network, the WDM network supporting a plurality of service connections, includes associating service connections supported by non-overlapping paths to form respective service channel groups, and for each service channel group, assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections. In addition, for each of said groups, at least one common wavelength channel is assigned for establishing a shared protection path for the service connections of each of said groups. In addition, the wavelength channels assigned for establishing the shared protection paths for each of the groups may be used for providing service connections for the WDM network when not in use as shared protection paths. However such provisional service connections are dropped when the wavelength channels are needed to establish shared protection paths.