Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a first gateway circuit in an optical access network connecting a plurality of end-of-network users to a central node, the first gateway circuit connecting one of the plurality of end-of-network users to the central node via fiber optic data lines. Further, the first gateway circuit is configured and arranged to: relay a first set of data between the end-of-network user and the central node using a packet-switching communication protocol, and relay a second set of data between the end-of-network user and the central node using an optical flow switching communication protocol.