A data center network node comprising: a connection for connecting at least one server to a first subnetwork, the first subnetwork comprising at least one of a switch or a router; and an electrical switching arrangement; at least one server connection for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to the at least one server; an optical receiver array for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to an optical offload subnetwork; wherein the optical receiver array comprises a plurality of receivers; an optical transmitter array for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to the optical offload subnetwork; wherein the optical transmitter array comprises a plurality of transmitters; wherein the electrical switching arrangement is configured to at least one of: direct an incoming data stream from a receiver n the optical receiver array to at least one of the at least one server connection or at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and to direct an outgoing data stream from one of the at least one server connection to at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and receive a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at one of the plurality of receivers, direct the data stream from the receiver to one of the at least one server connection, and direct the data stream to one or more of the plurality of transmitters; wherein the electrical switching arrangement is configured to enable an incoming data stream to bypass the at least one server connection and wherein the electrical switching arrangement on receipt of a configuration instruction s further configurable to: receive a first copy of a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at a first receiver; receive a second copy of the data stream for the point to multipoint connection at a second receiver; direct the data stream from the first receiver to one of the at least one servers; and direct the data stream from the second receiver to at least one transmitter. a connection for connecting at least one server to a first subnetwork, the first subnetwork comprising at least one of a switch or a router; and an electrical switching arrangement; at least one server connection for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to the at least one server; an optical receiver array for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to an optical offload subnetwork; wherein the optical receiver array comprises a plurality of receivers; an optical transmitter array for connecting the electrical switching arrangement to the optical offload subnetwork; wherein the optical transmitter array comprises a plurality of transmitters; wherein the electrical switching arrangement is configured to at least one of: direct an incoming data stream from a receiver n the optical receiver array to at least one of the at least one server connection or at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and to direct an outgoing data stream from one of the at least one server connection to at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and receive a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at one of the plurality of receivers, direct the data stream from the receiver to one of the at least one server connection, and direct the data stream to one or more of the plurality of transmitters; wherein the electrical switching arrangement is configured to enable an incoming data stream to bypass the at least one server connection and wherein the electrical switching arrangement on receipt of a configuration instruction s further configurable to: receive a first copy of a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at a first receiver; receive a second copy of the data stream for the point to multipoint connection at a second receiver; direct the data stream from the first receiver to one of the at least one servers; and direct the data stream from the second receiver to at least one transmitter. direct an incoming data stream from a receiver n the optical receiver array to at least one of the at least one server connection or at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and to direct an outgoing data stream from one of the at least one server connection to at least one transmitter in the optical transmitter array, and receive a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at one of the plurality of receivers, direct the data stream from the receiver to one of the at least one server connection, and direct the data stream to one or more of the plurality of transmitters; wherein the electrical switching arrangement is configured to enable an incoming data stream to bypass the at least one server connection and wherein the electrical switching arrangement on receipt of a configuration instruction s further configurable to: receive a first copy of a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at a first receiver; receive a second copy of the data stream for the point to multipoint connection at a second receiver; direct the data stream from the first receiver to one of the at least one servers; and direct the data stream from the second receiver to at least one transmitter. receive a first copy of a data stream for a point to multipoint connection at a first receiver; receive a second copy of the data stream for the point to multipoint connection at a second receiver; direct the data stream from the first receiver to one of the at least one servers; and direct the data stream from the second receiver to at least one transmitter.