Node for a fast packet-switching network in optical-electrical technology.

A node for a fast packet-switching network in optical-­electrical technology comprises an optical switching matrix (MOT) and an electrical control equipment (EC) which processes the signalling and the information packet headers. More particularly, the control equipment updates the label and, depending on such a label, searches for the routing through the node. A centralized node controller (CEL) processes the signalling, while a distributed processing system (PEE) processes the packet headers and routes the packets through the network. For all communications in progress, the distributed processing system (PEE) periodically forwards routing requests towards an electrical self-routing switching matrix (MEL) associated with the optical matrix (MOT); when a connection path has been found between an input and an output of the electrical matrix (MEL), the same path is reproduced in the optical matrix (MOT) and the packets are transferred towards the node output through the optical matrix.