Implementations of the present principles include methods, systems and apparatuses for transmitting data through a sub-carrier multiplexing and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access passive optical network. In accordance with aspects of the present principles, a plurality of optical network units are assigned electrical carrier frequency bandwidths that are narrower than a system capacity bandwidth. Modulation of optical waves transmitted between an optical line terminal and each optical network unit is conducted on different orthogonal sub-carrier frequencies within the assigned bandwidths such that sampling of said orthogonal sub-carrier frequencies is limited to the assigned electrical carrier frequency bandwidths. The waves are thereafter received and demodulated for the extraction of data.