An edge router for interfacing an optical label switched core IP network with client networks, which may be electronically switched and operate with different protocol. The core network has a limited number of ports, each with an edge router, which receives packets from one or more associated client networks and queues them according to egress port on the core network and optionally additionally according to attribute of service. When a queue has exceed a maximum packet length or a timeout limit assigned to the queue, the packets including their headers are assembled into a super packet for transmission across the core network in optical form, preferably using optical routers incorporating wavelength conversion of payloads and switching according to an attached label. The edge router at the egress port disassembles the super packet into constituent packets for respective destinations on the client network.