A method and system for a data centric architecture in an optical network are provided. In one embodiment, a method and system for a data centric architecture in an optical network includes an optical ring. A number of local nodes are coupled to the optical ring and are configured to receive traffic at a receiving wavelength by optically broadcasting with electrical tag discrimination. Each local node is also configured to transmit traffic at an assigned wavelength different from the transmitting wavelengths assigned to the other local nodes. The transmitting wavelengths are each transmitted at a bandwidth less than the receiving wavelength. A data center node is coupled to the optical ring and operable to receive traffic from the local nodes, sort at least some of the traffic based on the destination of the traffic, and transmit the traffic at the receiving wavelength to the destination.