Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for carrier-embedded optical radio-over-fiber (RoF) communications. Example embodiments of the method may include modulating a baseband signal with and an intermediate frequency (IF) and a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to produce a RF modulated optical signal, transmitting the RF modulated optical signal to a remote access point with an optical fiber, and detecting the transmitted RF modulated optical signal. The method may also include receiving a RF uplink signal and mixing a harmonic of the RF carrier signal with the received RF uplink signal to down-convert the received RF uplink signal to an IF uplink signal. The method may include modulating a second optical source with the IF uplink signal to produce an IF uplink optical signal, transmitting the IF uplink optical signal via an optical fiber, and detecting the IF uplink optical signal.