The photonic network of the present invention uses a cost-effective DWDM optimized switch architecture allowing the introduction of DWDM into the metro network. In this invention the optical carriers are all generated in the photonic layer at the edge photonic switching node and are allocated out to the photonic access nodes or central core data switch for modulation. This has the advantage of providing the optical carriers to be modulated from a centralized highly stable and precise source, thereby meeting the requirements for DWDM carrier precision, whilst generating these carriers in relatively close proximity to the modulators. Sparse WDM components can be used in the access portion of the network without adversely affecting the ability of the signal to transit the DWDM portion of the core network, since the optical carrier frequency is fixed at the centralized source and is unaffected by these components.