Host unit in a passive optical network

A communication device capable of restraining the packet transmission efficiency from lowering. An address storing unit extracts, from uplink packets, the addresses of terminals connected to sub-units and registers the addresses in an address management table. An address extracting unit extracts the address of a destination terminal included in a downlink packet output from a layer 2 switch, and an address determining unit determines whether or not the address of the destination terminal is registered in the address management table. In accordance with the result of the determination, a packet output unit outputs the downlink packet to a corresponding coupler.