Abstract: Low cost implementation of broadband upstream transmission for local and access network applications is made possible through the use of modulated downstream signals in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON) to injection-lock vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) for operation as stable, uncooled, and directly-modulated upstream transmitters. By way of example and not limitation, an optical network unit comprises: downstream input, photoreceiver, tunable laser, upstream output, and means for directionally coupling the downstream input into the tunable laser for modulating the output wavelength which is coupled to the upstream output.