An intelligent photonic burst switched (PBS) network includes edge nodes and switching nodes. The PBS edge node includes a flow classifier, flow manager, and ingress/egress PBS MAC layer components. The flow classifier classifies information received from outside the PBS network into forward-equivalent classes. The flow manager determines whether the information is to be sent over the PBS network or elsewhere. Information to be sent over the PBS network is processed by the ingress PBS MAC layer component, which assembles the information into data bursts, schedules the transmission of the data burst, builds a control burst, and frames the data and control bursts, which are to be optically transmitted over the PBS network. The egress PBS MAC layer component receives control bursts and the corresponding data bursts, de-frames the data bursts, and appropriately assembles the data. The data is then classified and transmitted to the intended destination.