To realize a highly reliable monitor control signal network at low costs, a data transmission system comprises a first network to optically transmit a data signal and a monitor control signal, first and second nodes connecting to the first network, and a second network capable of transmitting the monitor control signal. The first node comprises a demultiplexer to demultiplex the data signal and the monitor control signal out of the signal light from the first network, a signal distributor having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports to distribute the data signal demultiplexed by the demultiplexer into designated output port, a controller to control the signal distributor and to monitor each part in the first node, a first selector to select one of the monitor control signal demultiplexed by the demultiplexer and the other monitor control signal entered from the second network and to apply the selected one to the controller, a second selector to output the monitor control signal output for the second node output from the controller toward one of the first network and the second networks, and a multiplexer to multiplex the monitor control signal output for the first network output from the second selector and the data signal output from the signal distributor and to output the multiplexed signals onto the first network.