A point-to-multipoint bi-directional wide area telecommunications network employing atmospheric optical communication. The network comprises a primary transceiver unit, a plurality of subscriber transceiver units and an optical router. The primary transceiver unit may send data destined for the subscriber transceiver units through the optical router, and the subscriber transceiver units may send data destined for the primary transceiver unit through the optical router. The primary transceiver unit and optical router communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere. Similarly, the optical router and the subscriber transceiver units communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere.