A framework for virtual network element of optical access networking has been designed to provide a cloud-residing core system (i.e., Mobile core controller or SDN controller) for running higher layers without requiring dedicated hardware at the edge of the network. In this framework, a service operator can create multiple optical access network connections for serving a single or multiple types of wired or wireless subscriber by programming (via software) optical ports of a Virtual Optical Edge Device to perform the desired MAC and/or PHY layer of a selected optical protocol. The Virtual Optical Edge Device in turn performs the desired PHY function or MAC and PHY function of selected protocol per each southbound port. The Virtual Optical Edge Device performs data abstraction function on all data associated with southbound ports and presents the core network a unified API via its northbound ports.