Optical line terminal (OLT) optical module adapted to perform optical unit network (ONU) functionality

An optical line terminal (OLT) is operable in a passive optical network (PON). The OLT comprises a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), an electrical module for generating continuous downstream signal and processing received upstream burst signals according to a communication protocol of the PON and an optical module for transmitting continuous optical signals over a first wavelength and receiving burst optical signals over a second wavelength. The optical module further includes an ONU traffic processing module is electrically coupled to the optical module and the electrical module. The ONU traffic processing module is configured to emulate one of the ONUs of the PON. An interface is used for interfacing between the electrical module and the optical module.