Systems and methods for optical cross connects which switch data at a container (packet) level. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical switch edges are coupled to an optical switch core via a minimal number of optical fibers. The switch core is configured to optically switch data from an ingress edge to one of a plurality of egress edges in a nonblocking fashion. The ingress edge receives data streams and distributes the data among a plurality of container processors. Each of these container processors produces an optical signal of a different wavelength, which can then be multiplexed with others to form a multiple-wavelength optical signal that is transmitted to the switch core. The switch core then switches successive portions (containers) of the multiple-wavelength signal to the egress edges to which they are respectively destined. The respective egress edges perform the reverse of this process to form output data signals.