A TDM comprising: (a) at least two wavelength-tunable devices for
outputting a signal, each wavelength-tunable device being adapted to
change signal wavelength in response to a change signal; (b) a plurality
of on-off gates, one on-off gate being coupled to the output of each
wavelength-tunable device such that, when a gate is on, the signal of its
respective wavelength-tunable device passes through, and, when it is off,
the signal of its respective wavelength-tunable device does not pass
through, the gates being configured such that a gate is switched off when
its respective wavelength-tunable device receives a change signal, and,
when one gate is turned off, another gate is turned on; and (c) a
combiner coupled to the outputs of all the gates for combining the
outputs on a single transmission line.