Enabling software-defined control in passive optical networks

A software-defined passive optical network includes a set of optical network terminals, a set of passive optical network ports, and a plurality of splitters. Each of the optical network terminals is connected to a single one of the passive optical network ports through a given one of the splitters, and the network is divided into a plurality of areas, each of which is assigned a given fraction of the passive optical network ports. Passive optical network port utilization is monitored for each of the plurality of areas; for those of the areas determined to have passive optical network port overutilization, the number of the passive optical network ports assigned thereto is increased; and for those of the areas determined to have passive optical network port underutilization, the number of the passive optical network ports assigned thereto is reduced.