An optical star assembly having a ribbon fiber optic mixing element with the first and second ends. A first and second bundle of fiber optic cables are provided each with an engagement end for connection with a respective end of the ribbon fiber optic mixing element. The ribbon fiber optic mixing element and a portion of the fiber optic cables are carried in the housing so that the housing biases each end of the ribbon fiber optic mixing element towards an engagement end of the first and second bundles of fiber optic cables respectively. The fiber optic cables may be connected to a plurality of optical receivers so that the ribbon fiber optic mixing element distributes optical information from each of the fibers to all of the optical receivers in the assembly.