A technique for optically converting wavelengths in a multi-wavelength system is disclosed. In one embodiment, wherein the multi-wavelength system has W wavelength channels, wherein W=2^N, the technique is realized by selectively directing a received frequency channel corresponding to a respective wavelength channel based upon a predetermined frequency mapping. Then, the frequency of the selectively directed frequency channel is shifted at least once by an amount defined by 2ⁱf, wherein f is the frequency spacing between adjacent frequency channels, and i=0, 1, . . . N-1.