A communication system includes a first multiplexer configured to multiplex a first optical line terminal signal having a first multiplexing group and a second optical line terminal signal having a second multiplexing group into a first multiplexed signal. The communication system includes a second multiplexer configured to demultiplex a second multiplexed signal into a third optical line terminal signal having the first multiplexing group and a fourth optical line terminal signal having the second multiplexing group. Moreover, the communication system includes a third multiplexer optically connected with the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer, the third multiplexer configured to multiplex/demultiplex between a feeder optical signal and the first and second multiplexed signals. The first and second optical line terminal signals include a legacy upstream free spectral range, and the third and fourth optical line terminal signals include a legacy downstream free spectral range.