Abstract: A method of communicating an optical signal includes generating an optical signal at a bit rate of at least 2.5 Gb/s. The optical signal including at least thirty optical channels. In one particular embodiment, at least some of the thirty optical channels reside within a 1567-1620 nanometer wavelength range. The method also includes receiving the optical signal at a ROPA that includes a rare-earth doped optical fiber. In addition, the method includes introducing a pump signal to a communication span of the unrepeatered optical communication system. The pump signal operable to amplify the optical signal by Raman amplification within the communication span and including at least one pump signal wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber. The method further includes receiving the optical signal after the optical signal has traversed at least 200 kilometers of the communication span.

Abstract: A method of communicating an optical signal includes generating an optical signal at a bit rate of at least 2.5 Gb/s. The optical signal including at least thirty optical channels. In one particular embodiment, at least some of the thirty optical channels reside within a 1567-1620 nanometer wavelength range. The method also includes receiving the optical signal at a ROPA that includes a rare-earth doped optical fiber. In addition, the method includes introducing a pump signal to a communication span of the unrepeatered optical communication system. The pump signal operable to amplify the optical signal by Raman amplification within the communication span and including at least one pump signal wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber. The method further includes receiving the optical signal after the optical signal has traversed at least 200 kilometers of the communication span.

Abstract: A method of communicating an optical signal includes generating an optical signal at a bit rate of at least 2.5 Gb/s. The optical signal including at least thirty optical channels. In one particular embodiment, at least some of the thirty optical channels reside within a 1567-1620 nanometer wavelength range. The method also includes receiving the optical signal at a ROPA that includes a rare-earth doped optical fiber. In addition, the method includes introducing a pump signal to a communication span of the unrepeatered optical communication system. The pump signal operable to amplify the optical signal by Raman amplification within the communication span and including at least one pump signal wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber. The method further includes receiving the optical signal after the optical signal has traversed at least 200 kilometers of the communication span.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes at least one amplification stage having a saturation recovery time of less than one (1) millisecond. The amplification stage includes a gain medium operable to receive at least one pump signal and to receive from a multiple span communication link an optical signal comprising a leading edge. The at least one pump signal and the optical signal travel in the same direction at approximately the same speed through at least a portion of the gain medium. In one particular embodiment the leading edge of the optical signal after passing through a plurality of amplifiers when received by a receiver coupled to the communication link comprises a peak power that is no more than ten times the average power of the optical signal at the receiver.