Method for more efficient data transmission, in an optical telecommunications network in wavelength-multiplex operation, of different optical wavelengths, the optical telecommunications network comprising a first superordinate network node, a second superordinate network node (R2') and further a plurality of network elements (R1-1, R1-2), the plurality of network elements (R1-1, R1-2) comprising at least a first network element (R1-1) and a second network element (R-2), the telecommunications network comprising an optical transmission link, the optical transmission link directly or indirectly interconnecting the first superordinate network node and the first network element (R1-1), as well as the first network element (R1-1) and the second network element (R1-2), as well as, further, the second network element (R1-2) and the second superordinate network node (R2'), the optical transmission link also further interconnecting the first superordinate network node and the second superordinate network node (R2'), in such a way that the optical transmission link is topologically annularly closed, and, via the annularly closed optical transmission link: - a first signal path extending between the first network element (R1-1) and the first superordinate network node in the direction from the first network element (R1-1) to the first superordinate network node, - a second signal path extending between the first network element (R1-1) and the second superordinate network node (R2') in the direction from the first network element (R1-1) to the second superordinate network node, the second signal path additionally extending from the second superordinate network node (R2') to the first superordinate network node, - a third signal path extending between the second network element (R1-2) and the first superordinate network node in the direction from the second network element (R1-2) to the first superordinate network node, and - a fourth signal path extending between the second network element (R1-2) and the second superordinate network node (R2') in the direction from the second network element (R1-2) to the second superordinate network node (R2'), the fourth signal path additionally extending from the second superordinate network node (R2') to the first superordinate network node, the first and second signal path (151, 152) and the third and fourth signal path (153, 154) in each case being disjunct on the optical transmission link and in each case combining to form the optical transmission link, and a first optical signal being transmitted from the first network element (R1-1) to the first superordinate network node both via the first signal path and via the second signal path and a second optical signal being transmitted from the second network element (R1-2) to the first superordinate network node both via the third signal path and via the fourth signal path, the optical telecommunications network being operable in a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes comprising at least one normal operating mode and at least a first and a second error scenario operating mode, the first superordinate network node comprising a first wavelength-selective switch for the first and third signal path (151, 153) and a second wavelength-selective switch for the second and fourth signal path (152, 154), the first and second wavelength-selective switch (111, 112) comprising first outputs in such a way that one of the plurality of operating modes of the optical telecommunications network is assigned to each of the first outputs, and the method comprising the step whereby, as a function of the operating mode of the optical telecommunications network, the one of the first outputs assigned to the respectively present operating mode of the optical telecommunications network is evaluated by the first superordinate network node for receiving the first optical signal and the second optical signal, characterised in that the optical signals of the first outputs of the first and second wavelength-selective switch (111, 112) each correspond to an optical addition of the associated output of the first wavelength-selective switch and the second wavelength-selective switch by means of optical couplers. - a first signal path extending between the first network element (R1-1) and the first superordinate network node in the direction from the first network element (R1-1) to the first superordinate network node, - a second signal path extending between the first network element (R1-1) and the second superordinate network node (R2') in the direction from the first network element (R1-1) to the second superordinate network node, the second signal path additionally extending from the second superordinate network node (R2') to the first superordinate network node, - a third signal path extending between the second network element (R1-2) and the first superordinate network node in the direction from the second network element (R1-2) to the first superordinate network node, and - a fourth signal path extending between the second network element (R1-2) and the second superordinate network node (R2') in the direction from the second network element (R1-2) to the second superordinate network node (R2'), the fourth signal path additionally extending from the second superordinate network node (R2') to the first superordinate network node,