Processing a received optical signal in an optical communication network includes equalizing (322) a received optical signal to provide an equalized signal, demodulating (323) the equalized signal according to an m-ary modulation fornat to provide a demodulated signal, decoding (323) the demodulated signal according to an inner code to provide an inner decoded signal, and decoding (324) the inner decoded signal according to an outer code. Other aspects include other features such as equalizing an optical channel including storing channel characteristics during a waiting period between bursts on the channel, and equalizing a received burst from the client using the loaded channel characteristics.