An optical communication apparatus includes a variable resistor unit, a measurement unit, and a control unit. The variable resistor unit is arranged at a pre-stage of an electrical/optical conversion unit, which converts an electrical signal obtained by converting an input packet to an optical signal having a waveform corresponding to a potential difference between a positive phase component and a negative phase component of the electrical signal by using the potential difference. The variable resistor unit provides a resistor that varies a midpoint of potential of the positive phase component or the negative phase component. The measurement unit measures a ratio of a presence period, which is a period where the input packet is present, to a sum of the presence period and a non-presence period. The control unit controls a value of the resistor provided to the positive phase component or the negative phase component based on the ratio.