A passive optical network comprising at least two optical line terminals (3, 103, 303, 403), a remote node and a plurality of optical node units (5, 105, 205, 405), (a) each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) having a WDM working port (9 i), the remote node having a predetermined number of M WDM ports (13 j) and a predetermined number of N distribution ports (15 k), and each optical node unit (5, 105, 205, 405) having a communication port (21 k), (b) each optical line terminal WDM working port (13 j) being connected to a dedicated remote node WDM port (13 j) by a respective working feeder fiber, and each optical node unit communication port (21 k) being connected to a dedicated remote node distribution port (15 k) by a respective distribution fiber, (c) the remote node comprising a passive optical filter device adapted to realize a spectral and spatial filter property of an M x N arrayed waveguide grating, the passive optical filter device defining the M WDM ports (13 j) and the N distribution ports (15 k), (d) each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) being operable to unidirectionally or bidirectionally communicate with one or more selected or all optical node units (5, 105, 205, 405) using optical channel working signals, wherein each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) is operable to create and to supply to the working fiber respective downstream optical working channel signals, each of the downstream optical channel working signals being created at a downstream working wavelength suitable for establishing, at the respective downstream working wavelength, a communication link between the optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) and the respective optical node unit (5, 105, 205, 405) via an optical working transmission path comprising the working feeder fiber, the remote node and the respective distribution fiber, and (e) that the passive optical network (100, 200, 300, 400) comprises a common control device (182, 184, 360), which is adapted to control the function of each optical line terminal (103, 303, 403) in such a way that only allowable optical communication links between a selected optical line terminal and the optical node units (5, 105, 205, 405) are established, (f) wherein the common control device comprises local control units, wherein each optical line terminal (103, 303, 403) comprises a local control unit and wherein the local control units are arranged to communicate with each other in order to provide or receive information concerning active and/or inactive communication links, or (g) wherein the common control device comprises local control units and a central control unit, wherein each optical line terminal (103, 303 403) comprises a local control unit and wherein the local control units are arranged to communicate with the central control unit in order to provide or receive information concerning active and/or inactive communication links. (a) each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) having a WDM working port (9 i), the remote node having a predetermined number of M WDM ports (13 j) and a predetermined number of N distribution ports (15 k), and each optical node unit (5, 105, 205, 405) having a communication port (21 k), (b) each optical line terminal WDM working port (13 j) being connected to a dedicated remote node WDM port (13 j) by a respective working feeder fiber, and each optical node unit communication port (21 k) being connected to a dedicated remote node distribution port (15 k) by a respective distribution fiber, (c) the remote node comprising a passive optical filter device adapted to realize a spectral and spatial filter property of an M x N arrayed waveguide grating, the passive optical filter device defining the M WDM ports (13 j) and the N distribution ports (15 k), (d) each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) being operable to unidirectionally or bidirectionally communicate with one or more selected or all optical node units (5, 105, 205, 405) using optical channel working signals, wherein each optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) is operable to create and to supply to the working fiber respective downstream optical working channel signals, each of the downstream optical channel working signals being created at a downstream working wavelength suitable for establishing, at the respective downstream working wavelength, a communication link between the optical line terminal (3, 103, 303, 403) and the respective optical node unit (5, 105, 205, 405) via an optical working transmission path comprising the working feeder fiber, the remote node and the respective distribution fiber, and (e) that the passive optical network (100, 200, 300, 400) comprises a common control device (182, 184, 360), which is adapted to control the function of each optical line terminal (103, 303, 403) in such a way that only allowable optical communication links between a selected optical line terminal and the optical node units (5, 105, 205, 405) are established, (f) wherein the common control device comprises local control units, wherein each optical line terminal (103, 303, 403) comprises a local control unit and wherein the local control units are arranged to communicate with each other in order to provide or receive information concerning active and/or inactive communication links, or (g) wherein the common control device comprises local control units and a central control unit, wherein each optical line terminal (103, 303 403) comprises a local control unit and wherein the local control units are arranged to communicate with the central control unit in order to provide or receive information concerning active and/or inactive communication links.