Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method in which the transmission capacity of an existing fiber optical system operating at the 1.5 micrometer wavelength range is increased by opening a second optical communication window in a &lgr;-range centered at 1.3 micrometer and enabling the full utilization of that additional bandwidth. More specifically, in a fiber optical information system operating with optical signals in a &lgr;-range centered at 1.55 micrometer, a Raman pump laser is linked to the system to provide counter-propagating light at a wavelength in a &lgr;-range centered at 1.24 micrometer to open a second optical communication window enabling the fill utilization of an additional bandwidth in a &lgr;-range centered at 1.31 micrometer for the simultaneous transmission of optical signals in both the 1.3 and 1.5 micrometer wavelength range.