One or more input access waveguides are connected to an optical splitter arranged to divide the light into two or more output waveguides, at least two of the splitter's output access waveguides are used to form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator where at least one arm of the interferometer has a phase modulator electrode and a single electrical contact is arranged to apply a common voltage simultaneously to a selected portion in each arm, or selected portions in each arm of the waveguides that are disposed after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes, or alternatively the single electrical contact is arranged to apply the voltage to a selected portion of the input access waveguide connected to the splitter and in one or more selected portions of one or both of the arms after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes to provide gain or reduced optical loss.