Optical communication module capable of controlling optical power and optical communication apparatus including the same

An optical communication apparatus including at least one optical communication module, each of the at least one optical communication module comprising:

• an optical transmission assembly configured to generate first transmit light based on an input electric signal and output the first transmit light;
• an optical reception assembly configured to divide input first receive light into first receive payload data and first receive auxiliary management data;
• and
• an auxiliary management controller configured to analyze the first receive auxiliary management data and control attenuation of receive light input to the optical reception assembly;
• and
• a reception attenuator arranged between a multiplexer and the optical reception assembly and configured to attenuate a power level of the receive light input to the optical reception assembly under the control of the auxiliary management controller,
• wherein the first receive auxiliary management data includes a control signal which is generated by another optical communication module,
• wherein the auxiliary management controller controls the attenuation of the receive light based on said control signal without performing additional calculations to determine a control value, and
• wherein the first receive light is formed by combining the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data, and the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data have different wavelengths.