A novel multiwavelength-switchable laser based on a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) within a fibre ring cavity with a sampled high-birefringence fibre grating is proposed. Four channels with 0.8 nm spacing have been generated at room temperature and switched to other channels with 0.4 ran wavelength-shift by adjusting an inserted polariser. The laser can be used in hierarchical cross-connect WDM networks employing an interleaved waveband concept.