An add/drop optical multiplexing arrangement for adding at least one channel to an optical multiplexed signal, the add/drop optical multiplexing arrangement comprising: a first optical router configured as a 1x2N demultiplexer, N being the number of channels for demultiplexing said optical multiplexed signal into a duplicated plurality of channels, said first router having a duplicated plurality of output waveguides (106 1....106 N, and 108 1...108 N), wherein respective pairs of each plurality of output waveguides have substantially identical spectral characteristics, and, wherein the first one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides (108 1...108 N) is configured to drop at least one channel of a plurality of channels within the optical multiplexed signal; a second optical router configured.as a 2N x 1 multiplexer, the second optical router having a first plurality of input waveguides (112 1 -112 N), wherein each individual waveguide of said first plurality of input waveguides is coupled to a corresponding individual waveguide of the second one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides (106 1...106 N) of the first router, wherein the second optical router has a second plurality of input waveguides (114 1...114 N) for adding channels, wherein the second plurality of input waveguides is a duplicate set of said first plurality of input waveguides, wherein respective pairs of each plurality of input waveguides have substantially identical spectral characteristics, wherein the second optical router is configured to multiplex channels received in the first and second plurality of input waveguides; and at least one optical shutter is (120 1...120 N) interposed between one pair of said coupled waveguides,said at least one optical shutter responsive to a control signal, such that the optical shutter completely blocks a channel of said plurality of channels from reaching the second router in order to terminate the channel when said optical shutter is configured in a closed state, and allows the channel of said plurality of channels to reach the second router when the optical shutter is configured in an open state. a first optical router configured as a 1x2N demultiplexer, N being the number of channels for demultiplexing said optical multiplexed signal into a duplicated plurality of channels, said first router having a duplicated plurality of output waveguides (106 1....106 N, and 108 1...108 N), wherein respective pairs of each plurality of output waveguides have substantially identical spectral characteristics, and, wherein the first one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides (108 1...108 N) is configured to drop at least one channel of a plurality of channels within the optical multiplexed signal; a second optical router configured.as a 2N x 1 multiplexer, the second optical router having a first plurality of input waveguides (112 1 -112 N), wherein each individual waveguide of said first plurality of input waveguides is coupled to a corresponding individual waveguide of the second one of said duplicated plurality of output waveguides (106 1...106 N) of the first router, wherein the second optical router has a second plurality of input waveguides (114 1...114 N) for adding channels, wherein the second plurality of input waveguides is a duplicate set of said first plurality of input waveguides, wherein respective pairs of each plurality of input waveguides have substantially identical spectral characteristics, wherein the second optical router is configured to multiplex channels received in the first and second plurality of input waveguides; and at least one optical shutter is (120 1...120 N) interposed between one pair of said coupled waveguides,said at least one optical shutter responsive to a control signal, such that the optical shutter completely blocks a channel of said plurality of channels from reaching the second router in order to terminate the channel when said optical shutter is configured in a closed state, and allows the channel of said plurality of channels to reach the second router when the optical shutter is configured in an open state.