diff --git a/internal/pkg/afrouter/codec.go b/internal/pkg/afrouter/codec.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..278fc0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/pkg/afrouter/codec.go
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2018-present Open Networking Foundation
+
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package afrouter
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+	"github.com/opencord/voltha-go/common/log"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+)
+
+func Codec() grpc.Codec {
+	return CodecWithParent(&protoCodec{})
+}
+
+func CodecWithParent(parent grpc.Codec) grpc.Codec {
+	return &transparentRoutingCodec{parent}
+}
+
+type transparentRoutingCodec struct {
+	parentCodec grpc.Codec
+}
+
+// responseFrame is a frame being "returned" to whomever established the connection
+type responseFrame struct {
+	payload []byte
+	router  Router
+	method  string
+	backend *backend
+	metaKey string
+	metaVal string
+}
+
+// requestFrame is a frame coming in from whomever established the connection
+type requestFrame struct {
+	payload    []byte
+	router     Router
+	backend    *backend
+	connection *connection // optional, if the router preferred one connection over another
+	err        error
+	methodInfo methodDetails
+	serialNo   string
+	metaKey    string
+	metaVal    string
+}
+
+func (cdc *transparentRoutingCodec) Marshal(v interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+	switch t := v.(type) {
+	case *responseFrame:
+		return t.payload, nil
+	case *requestFrame:
+		return t.payload, nil
+	default:
+		return cdc.parentCodec.Marshal(v)
+	}
+}
+
+func (cdc *transparentRoutingCodec) Unmarshal(data []byte, v interface{}) error {
+	switch t := v.(type) {
+	case *responseFrame:
+		t.payload = data
+		// This is where the affinity is established on a northbound response
+		t.router.ReplyHandler(v)
+		return nil
+	case *requestFrame:
+		t.payload = data
+		// This is were the afinity value is pulled from the payload
+		// and the backend selected.
+		t.backend, t.connection = t.router.Route(v)
+		name := "<nil>"
+		if t.backend != nil {
+			name = t.backend.name
+		}
+		log.Debugf("Routing returned %s for method %s", name, t.methodInfo.method)
+
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return cdc.parentCodec.Unmarshal(data, v)
+	}
+}
+
+func (cdc *transparentRoutingCodec) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s", cdc.parentCodec.String())
+}
+
+// protoCodec is a Codec implementation with protobuf. It is the default Codec for gRPC.
+type protoCodec struct{}
+
+func (protoCodec) Marshal(v interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+	return proto.Marshal(v.(proto.Message))
+}
+
+func (protoCodec) Unmarshal(data []byte, v interface{}) error {
+	return proto.Unmarshal(data, v.(proto.Message))
+}
+
+func (protoCodec) String() string {
+	return "protoCodec"
+}