Communication network optical apparatus and method of providing an optical signal

An optical apparatus configured to operate in a communications network, the optical apparatus comprising:

• an optical module comprising:
• internal lasers arranged to generate optical signals internal to the optical module, optical modulators arranged to modulate the internal optical signal,
• an input port arranged to receive an external optical signal from an external laser, and
• optical routing devices arranged to route the internal optical signals from the internal lasers to the optical modulators, and to route the external optical signal from the input port to at least one of the optical modulators;
• a temperature sensor arranged to sense a temperature of the internal lasers and to generate a temperature reporting signal indicative of the temperature of the internal lasers;
• and
• a controller comprising processing circuitry and memory containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said controller is operative to:
• receive the temperature reporting signal,
• determine that a thermal protection condition exists based on the temperature of the internal lasers, as indicated by the temperature reporting signal, and
• in response to the determining, generate control signals configured to cause the external optical signal to be provided to at least one optical modulator and to cause an operating power of at least one respective internal laser to be reduced.