Distributed pon transceiver architecture

A method implemented in an optical line terminal (OLT) module in a network device, comprising:

• transmitting optical signals to and receiving optical signals from a number of optical network units (ONUs);
• identifying a remote OLT module operating at a lower upstream data rate than the OLT module;
• identifying a report message received from a first ONU operating at the lower upstream data rate;
• generating a grant corresponding to the report message, wherein a grant specifies a time slot for an upstream data burst;
• including the grant in a notification frame destined for the remote OLT module;
• and
• forwarding the notification frame to an internal switch coupled to the OLT module, wherein the internal switch is in the network device.

A network device, comprising:

• a line card;
• an internal switch in the network device;
• and
• a pluggable optical line terminal (OLT) module plugged into the network device, the OLT module comprising:
• a optical signal module configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a number of optical network units (ONUs);
• an OLT management module configured to identify a remote OLT module operating at a lower upstream data rate than the OLT module;
• a scheduler module configured to:
• identify a report message received from a first ONU operating at the lower upstream data rate;
• generate a grant corresponding to the report message;
• include the grant in a notification frame destined for the remote OLT module;
• and
• a forwarding module configured to forward the notification frame to the internal switch coupled to the OLT module.