A passive optical network (PON) component comprising a first coupler, a second coupler in communication with the first coupler via a plurality of communication paths, a delay module located on one of the communication paths, and a balanced detector in communication with the second coupler. The disclosure includes a method comprising receiving a plurality of optical signals from a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), wherein each ONU is associated with an optical frequency differential, copying at least some of the optical signals, delaying one of the optical signals or the copied optical signals, and producing a radio frequency (RF) signal based on at least one of the optical signals and at least one of the copied optical signals. Also included is a PON component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting an optical signal using an optical frequency differential.