Techniques and configurations are provided to generate multiple coherent optical subcarriers. A laser source generates as output a light beam at a carrier frequency. A multicarrier generator is provided that is coupled to the laser source and comprises one or more dual carrier generators each configured to modulate the light beam at the same modulation frequency or different modulation frequencies so as to output a plurality of light beams each at a different subcarrier frequency that is offset from the carrier frequency. The multicarrier generator generates the plurality of light beams on individual outputs, e.g., fibers, without the need for an optical demultiplexing filter.