A method for in-field calibration of a laser transmitter includes receiving, at an optical network unit (ONU), a downstream connection from an optical line terminal (OLT) where the ONU includes a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser. The method further includes attempting to establish an upstream connection between the ONU and the OLT. When the ONU establishes the upstream connection to the OLT, the method also includes receiving, at the ONU, a message to initiate calibration of the ONU where the message is generated to indicate that the DBR laser is operating outside an operational state. The method further includes tuning, by the ONU, the DBR laser to the operational state by adjusting an injection current for the DBR laser.