Abstract: An optical channelizer and router and routing method that are preferably employed on a satellite. An exemplary optical channelizer and router and method comprises a laser that generates a coherent optical beam that is output to a beam fanout device that divides the beam to produce a plurality of coherent optical beams. A plurality of spatial light modulators process the plurality of coherent optical beams and a plurality of RF input signals, and each outputs a set of spatially separated output beams. A plurality of optical frequency translators translate the optical frequencies of each set of spatially separated output beams by a different predetermined amount to produce respective sets of frequency translated spatially separated output beams. An optical switch routes each set of frequency translated spatially separated output beams to a different output port determined by the signal frequency of the respective RF input signals and the settings of the optical switch.