An optical packet node for receiving and transmitting optical packets is disclosed. A multiwavelength band splitting device splits received optical packets transmitted via multiwavelength bands into at least three groups, each group including one multiwavelength band. A multiwavelength band combining device combine the three groups of multiwavelength bands. At least two optical packet add drop multiplexers are placed between the multiwavelength band splitting device and the multiwavelength band combining device. Each optical packet add drop multiplexer adds and drops at least one individual wavelength to a respective multiwavelength band group. A load balancing stage is connected to the optical packet add drop multiplexers to provide an interconnection between at least two wavelength bands.