The desire for high bandwidth multi-media reach content and the exponential growth of Internet traffic has led to the penetration of optical technologies into the access segment in the form of Fibre-To-The-x (FFT-x) topologies. Due to its cost effectiveness and low energy consumption, most FFT-x models have been based on Passive Optical Networks (PONs) where the employment of in-line active components has been discouraged. Next generation optical access networks are required to provide higher bandwidth-distance product and support wireless services in a cost effective manner. Through experimental and simulation work, this thesis examines the use of multicarrier modulation formats such as Orthogonal Frequency Division multiplexing (OFDM) and Filter Bank Multi Carrier (FBMC) as mans of helping to meet the bandwidth-distance requirements set for next generation optical access networks. OFDM and FBMC both exhibit high spectral efficiency and a tolerance to chromatic dispersion making them excellent candidates for use in next generation optical access networks. In order to promote cost efficiency these systems are also studied in conjunction with Direct Modulation of novel laser devices and direct detection. In this work, the accommodation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) services in hybrid wired/wireless optical access networks is also demonstrated using spectral notching either by deactivation of subcarriers in OFDM or line-coding techniques in OOK based wired services. The use of FBMC and OFDM is also studied in light of uplink transmission in optical access networks without the employment of spectral guard bands that is commonly used for the reduction of Multiple Access Interference (MAI).