An optical one-to-one protection switching apparatus exchanges signals between a transmit node and a receive node. If a fault is detected in the first transmission line (down-stream), a controller in the node controls a drive circuit so as to shut off a gate. Then, the controller in the transmit node upon receiving a switching request from the receive node, controls the drive circuit so as to shut off the gate. Thereby, the optical switch is switched. The transmitter of the client terminal is thus connected to the second transmission line (down-stream). Upon receiving the switching request from the transmit node, the optical switch in the receive node is switched. Thereby the receiver in the client terminal is connected to the second transmission line (down-stream).