A fixed-size data packet switch comprising: 1) N input ports for receiving incoming fixed-size data packets at a first data rate and outputting the fixed-size data packets at the first data rate; 2) N output ports for receiving fixed-size data packets at the first data rate and outputting the fixed-size data packets at the first data rate; and 3) a switch fabric interconnecting the N input ports and the N output ports. The switch fabric comprises: a) N input buffers for receiving incoming fixed-size data packets at the first data rate and outputting the fixed-size data packets at a second data rate equal to at least twice the first data rate; b) N output buffers for receiving fixed-size data packets at the second data rate and outputting the fixed-size data packets at the first data rate; and c) a bufferless, non-blocking interconnecting network for receiving from the N input buffers the fixed-size data packets at the second data rate and transferring the fixed-size data packets to the N output buffers at the second data rate.