A plastic optical fiber (POF) based reflective star coupler is provided. The POF based reflective star coupler comprises a hollow cylindrical holding tube for receiving a plurality of plastic optical fibers (POF) at a front end of the holding tube and a mixing rod at a rear end of the holding tube; wherein a rear end of each POF is affixed to a front surface of the mixing rod; a rear convex surface of the mixing rod is coated with a highly reflective coating; and where the POFs, the mixing rod, and the holding tube are made from similar material, having similar refractive index and material properties.