The authors propose an original design based on multi-rate optical code paths (OCPs) for transport in advanced wavelength-division multiplexing/optical code division multiplexing (WDM/OCDM) networks. The authors utilise multi-length optical orthogonal codes (OOC) to obtain multi-rate OCPs. The performance of the proposed scheme is analysed and the impact of multiple access interference (MAI) and polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) over these OCPs is evaluated. Results show that not only multi-rate operation can be achieved but also MAI effects can be reduced, while mitigating PMD effects.42234239