Abstract: An optical switching system includes a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of switching elements. Each switching element includes an optical guiding structure which includes two pairs of waveguides; a driving arrangement for individually moving the switching elements between at least a first and a second position; and a first and a second input and a second output. When a generic switching element is moved in the first position, the first pair of waveguides connects a first input with a first output, and a second input with a second output; when a generic switching element is moved in the second position, the second pair of waveguides connects the first input with the second output, and the second input with the first output. In a first embodiment, the waveguides are provided on a disc shaped carrier and lie in the same plane, which disc is rotated. In a second embodiment, the two pairs of waveguides lie in different planes and the waveguide carrier plate is moved up and down for switching.