A method, network node and customer premises equipment for pre-equalization using beamforming functionality are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a network node includes estimating an uplink channel of a hybrid fiber cable network using references signals received from consumer premises equipment, determining a downlink channel using an inverse of the uplink channel estimate, mapping a downlink signal to a plurality of layer-specific signals, and applying beamforming weights to the layer-specific signals to produce layer-specific downlink signals, and summing the layer-specific downlink signals to produce a frequency-compensated downlink signal for transmission over the hybrid fiber cable network.