We propose a new broad-band local area network, STARNET, based on a physical passive star topology. Over a single physical network, STARNET offers all users both a moderate-speed packet network and a high-speed WDM circuit interconnect. Based on these two data transport facilities, several topological and protocol solutions are available to the users. As a result, STARNET supports traffic of widely different speed and continuity characteristics. Each node of the network requires bromana O P~~C I I '°C'~'rC'nCtYork .video conferenc~ng . "laeo teiepnony remote l i~r a r y w v~c e Ipaoers, DDOk5.lmqe5) only two lasers and its structure facilitates the achievement of frequency stabilization for the whole network. An effort toward waeo racsimile i m a~ WWSDWWS imovles, ana c i a s~ magazines ) HIGH SPEED an experimental demonstration of a 3 Gb/s per node, FDDIcompatible (at the packet network level) STARNET is currently in progress at the Optical Communication Research Laboratory of Stanford University.Fig. 1. Some of today's and tomorrow's network services.