To be able to receive a laser beam having a predetermined intensity even if lengths of optical fibers differ, a laser beam transmitted from a counterpart of communication is received by a photodiode, an electric signal produced thereby is amplified by an amplifying unit and thereafter, a peak value of the signal is detected by a peak hold unit, a differential amplifying unit calculates a difference between an output signal from the peak hold unit and a reference level (Rx. Ref), forms a control signal based on the difference and outputs it to APC via a selector, APC controls an LD drive unit in accordance with an output from a photodiode where a portion of a laser beam emitted from LD is incident and the signal outputted from the differential amplifying unit, and the LD drive unit amplifies transmitted data (Tx. Data) in accordance with a signal outputted from APC thereby driving LD.