A method for tuning parameters of individual wavelength channels transmitted over a multimode optical fiber, the method comprising: retrieving, by a processor, characteristics of the fiber used for an optical data link within an optical signal transmission system; determining, by the processor, a wavelength channel grid including each central wavelength in a plurality of central wavelengths that corresponds to each particular wavelength channel in a plurality of wavelength channels used to transmit data via optical signals over the fiber; calculating, by the processor, a maximum allowable data rate for each of the channels based on the characteristics of the fiber at defined channel wavelengths, optical signal transceiver specifications, and data transmission performance requirements for the system; and, assigning, by the processor, operational parameters to each of the channels based on the calculated maximum allowable data rate for each of the channels to achieve the data transmission performance requirements for the system; determining, by the processor, a bandwidth versus wavelength profile of the fiber; providing, by the processor, an electrical data transmission signal to each of the channels, each channel comprising a laser diode of a specific wavelength and a laser diode driver and each wavelength channel being driven at a data transmission rate corresponding to the bandwidth of the fiber at the wavelength of each channel based on the determined bandwidth versus wavelength profile of the fiber; and using, by the processor, a wavelength-division multiplexer to couple an optical data transmission signal from each laser diode corresponding to a particular one of the channels into the fiber to transmit the optical data transmission signal. retrieving, by a processor, characteristics of the fiber used for an optical data link within an optical signal transmission system; determining, by the processor, a wavelength channel grid including each central wavelength in a plurality of central wavelengths that corresponds to each particular wavelength channel in a plurality of wavelength channels used to transmit data via optical signals over the fiber; calculating, by the processor, a maximum allowable data rate for each of the channels based on the characteristics of the fiber at defined channel wavelengths, optical signal transceiver specifications, and data transmission performance requirements for the system; and, assigning, by the processor, operational parameters to each of the channels based on the calculated maximum allowable data rate for each of the channels to achieve the data transmission performance requirements for the system; determining, by the processor, a bandwidth versus wavelength profile of the fiber; providing, by the processor, an electrical data transmission signal to each of the channels, each channel comprising a laser diode of a specific wavelength and a laser diode driver and each wavelength channel being driven at a data transmission rate corresponding to the bandwidth of the fiber at the wavelength of each channel based on the determined bandwidth versus wavelength profile of the fiber; and using, by the processor, a wavelength-division multiplexer to couple an optical data transmission signal from each laser diode corresponding to a particular one of the channels into the fiber to transmit the optical data transmission signal.