A space-division switching and control system for a network operating with space-division switching of information modulating optical carrier frequencies, wherein the switches are arranged between a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets and are light deflection hologram elements that are capable of storing a plurality of holographic optical arrays. Each switch is associated with an inlet from which it receives an impinging light wave and in each switch each holographic optical array deflects the impinging light wave along a direction of an order different from the 0-order direction toward an outlet selected among the plurality of outlets, wherein in the 0-order direction of each switch arranged is a photodetector whose output signals reflect the lit or unlit condition of the associated inlet and are transmitted to the switching control unit of the space-division and control system.
SPACE DIVISION SWITCHING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SWITCHING INFORMATION MODULATING OPTICAL FREQUENCIES