A device determines a zero-distance equalization delay and an order for optical line terminal (OLT) channel terminations (CTs), and determines a round-trip propagation time between a first OLT CT, based on the order, and an optical network unit (ONU). The device determines an equalization delay based on the round-trip propagation time, and hands over the ONU to a next OLT CT. The device calculates a round-trip delay for the next OLT CT based on a propagation time between the next OLT CT and the ONU, a processing time of the ONU, and the equalization delay. The device compares the round-trip delay, for the next OLT CT, with the zero-distance equalization delay to obtain a comparison result, and alters the zero-distance equalization delay based on the comparison result. The device repeats the performing, the calculating, the comparing, and the altering for remaining OLT CTs.