A polarization mode dispersion compensator comprising: a first polarization controller that receives an optical signal that has travelled through an optical fiber, and is adapted to adjust the polarization of the optical signal; a tunable differential group delay element that is adapted to receive the optical signal downstream of the first polarization controller, and is adapted to adjust the differential group delay of the optical signal; an optical parameter measurement mechanism that is adapted to measure a degree of polarization of the optical signal downstream of the tunable differential group delay element; a first adjustment mechanism that is adapted to control the adjustment of the polarization provided by the first polarization controller and the adjustment of the differential group delay provided by the tunable differential group delay element in response to the measured degree of polarization, the first adjustment mechanism forming a portion of a first feedback loop and configured to control the first polarization controller and the tunable differential group delay element in a manner that reduces first order polarization mode dispersion of the optical signal; a second polarization controller that is adapted to receive an optical signal downstream of the tunable differential group delay element, and further is adapted to adjust the polarization of the optical signal to have a polarization state that results in reduction in higher order polarization mode dispersion; and a second adjustment mechanism that is adapted to control the adjustment of the polarization provided by the second polarization controller in a manner that the optical signal converges on the polarization state that results in reduction in higher order polarization mode dispersion, the second adjustment mechanism forming a portion of a second feedback loop that is distinct from the first feedback loop. a first polarization controller that receives an optical signal that has travelled through an optical fiber, and is adapted to adjust the polarization of the optical signal; a tunable differential group delay element that is adapted to receive the optical signal downstream of the first polarization controller, and is adapted to adjust the differential group delay of the optical signal; an optical parameter measurement mechanism that is adapted to measure a degree of polarization of the optical signal downstream of the tunable differential group delay element; a first adjustment mechanism that is adapted to control the adjustment of the polarization provided by the first polarization controller and the adjustment of the differential group delay provided by the tunable differential group delay element in response to the measured degree of polarization, the first adjustment mechanism forming a portion of a first feedback loop and configured to control the first polarization controller and the tunable differential group delay element in a manner that reduces first order polarization mode dispersion of the optical signal; a second polarization controller that is adapted to receive an optical signal downstream of the tunable differential group delay element, and further is adapted to adjust the polarization of the optical signal to have a polarization state that results in reduction in higher order polarization mode dispersion; and a second adjustment mechanism that is adapted to control the adjustment of the polarization provided by the second polarization controller in a manner that the optical signal converges on the polarization state that results in reduction in higher order polarization mode dispersion, the second adjustment mechanism forming a portion of a second feedback loop that is distinct from the first feedback loop.