A software-defined, SD, optical network unit, ONU, comprising: a local software defined, SD, controller; one or more software-defined, SD, optical network unit, ONU, drivers connected to the local SD controller; and an underlying hardware component connected to each of said one or more SD ONU drivers, wherein the local SD controller is adapted to manage said one or more SD ONU drivers by issuing commands communicated to said one or more SD ONU drivers, and wherein each of said one or more SD ONU drivers is adapted to implement a required function on the underlying hardware component; a passive splitter; a tunable optical filter, TOF,; a photo diode, PD,; and a first software-defined, SD, switch, wherein said one or more SD ONU drivers comprise a first SD ONU driver and a second ONU driver, the TOF is connected to the first SD ONU driver, and the first SD switch is connected to the second SD ONU driver, wherein the TOF receives an output optical signal from the passive splitter, wherein the PD receives an output optical signal from the TOF, wherein the first SD switch receives an output electrical signal from the PD, and selects one of possible output paths, wherein said one or more SD ONU drivers further comprise a third software-defined, SD, optical network unit, ONU, driver, wherein the possible output paths include: an analog-to-digital converter, ADC,; an orthogonal frequency division multiple access, OFDMA, digital signal processor, DSP,; a second software-defined, SD, switch connected to the third SD ONU driver; and a radio frequency, RF, antenna, and wherein the ADC receives an output signal from the first SD switch, wherein the OFDMA DSP receives an output signal from the ADC, wherein the second SD switch receives an output signal from the OFDMA DSP, wherein the RF antenna receives an output signal from the second SD switch. a local software defined, SD, controller; one or more software-defined, SD, optical network unit, ONU, drivers connected to the local SD controller; and an underlying hardware component connected to each of said one or more SD ONU drivers, wherein the local SD controller is adapted to manage said one or more SD ONU drivers by issuing commands communicated to said one or more SD ONU drivers, and wherein each of said one or more SD ONU drivers is adapted to implement a required function on the underlying hardware component; a passive splitter; a tunable optical filter, TOF,; a photo diode, PD,; and a first software-defined, SD, switch, wherein said one or more SD ONU drivers comprise a first SD ONU driver and a second ONU driver, the TOF is connected to the first SD ONU driver, and the first SD switch is connected to the second SD ONU driver, wherein the TOF receives an output optical signal from the passive splitter, wherein the PD receives an output optical signal from the TOF, wherein the first SD switch receives an output electrical signal from the PD, and selects one of possible output paths, wherein said one or more SD ONU drivers further comprise a third software-defined, SD, optical network unit, ONU, driver, wherein the possible output paths include: an analog-to-digital converter, ADC,; an orthogonal frequency division multiple access, OFDMA, digital signal processor, DSP,; a second software-defined, SD, switch connected to the third SD ONU driver; and a radio frequency, RF, antenna, and an analog-to-digital converter, ADC,; an orthogonal frequency division multiple access, OFDMA, digital signal processor, DSP,; a second software-defined, SD, switch connected to the third SD ONU driver; and a radio frequency, RF, antenna, and wherein the ADC receives an output signal from the first SD switch, wherein the OFDMA DSP receives an output signal from the ADC, wherein the second SD switch receives an output signal from the OFDMA DSP, wherein the RF antenna receives an output signal from the second SD switch.