Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating, transmitting, directing, receiving, and processing optical subcarriers. In some implementations, a system includes a Tier 1 switch that supplies a plurality of data channels; a transmitter that receives the plurality of data channels, the transmitter including an optical modulator that supplies a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the plurality of data channels; an optical platform that receives the plurality of optical subcarriers, the optical platform having a plurality of outputs, each of which supplying at least one of the plurality of subcarriers; a plurality of receivers, each receiving one or more of the plurality of optical subcarriers and supplying one or more of the plurality of data channels; and a plurality of servers, each of which receiving one or more of the plurality of data channels.