Systems and methods for increasing bandwidth in a computer network are provided. A computer network can include a first lower level switch having a first port and a second port. The computer network can include a second lower level switch having a first port and a second port. The computer network can include an upper level switch having respective ports directly coupled to ports of the first and second lower level switches. A third port of the upper level switch can couple to a first port of a passive optical splitter. The passive optical splitter can have second and third ports coupled to respective ports of the first and second lower level switches. The passive optical splitter can be configured to transmit signals received at its first port as output signals on both of its second and third ports.