A wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WPON) comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to the OLT via a power optical splitter. The OLT is configured to monitor wavelengths in use by the ONUs and to divide upstream traffic from the ONUs into multiple channels using tunable filters. Also disclosed is an OLT for a PON, the OLT comprising a plurality of receivers and a plurality of tunable filters corresponding to each of the receivers. The OLT also comprises channel control logic coupled to the tunable filters, wherein the channel control logic is configured to detect a plurality of wavelengths in use for upstream traffic in the PON and to divide the upstream traffic into multiple channels using the tunable filters. Included is a method for managing upstream traffic in a PON, the method comprising monitoring, by a processor, wavelengths in use for upstream traffic in the PON. The method also comprises dividing the upstream traffic into multiple channels using tunable filters.