An unrepeatered optical communication system comprising: a first end terminal of a deployed unrepeatered optical communication system coupled to a first end of a first transmission fibre; a remote optically pumped amplifier (ROPA) coupled to a second end of the first transmission fiber and to a first end of a second transmission fibre, wherein the ROPA is configured to amplify wavelengths within a 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, the ROPA operable to receive an optical signal from the first end terminal of the unrepeatered communication system, the ROPA comprising a rare-earth doped optical fiber, and a second end terminal coupled to a second end of the second transmission fibre, the second end terminal coupled to receive the optical signal, characterised in that the first end terminal is adapted to generate an optical signal, which optical signal comprises a plurality of optical signal wavelengths outside the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, and in that the system further comprises a first pump source coupled to the second end terminal, the pump source being operable to generate a first pump signal that counter-propagates with the optical signal within at least a portion of the second transmission fiber, the at least a portion of the second transmission fiber comprising a distributed Raman amplifier operable to amplify the optical signal through Raman amplification, the first pump signal comprising at least one pump signal having a wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber and a power level, such that the ROPA introduces a loss of no more than four decibels to the optical signal including the plurality of optical signal wavelengths outside the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, whereby the deployed unrepeatered optical communication system is thereby upgraded to expand its bandwidth capability without removing the ROPA that is configured to amplify wavelengths within the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range. a first end terminal of a deployed unrepeatered optical communication system coupled to a first end of a first transmission fibre; a remote optically pumped amplifier (ROPA) coupled to a second end of the first transmission fiber and to a first end of a second transmission fibre, wherein the ROPA is configured to amplify wavelengths within a 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, the ROPA operable to receive an optical signal from the first end terminal of the unrepeatered communication system, the ROPA comprising a rare-earth doped optical fiber, and a second end terminal coupled to a second end of the second transmission fibre, the second end terminal coupled to receive the optical signal, characterised in that the first end terminal is adapted to generate an optical signal, which optical signal comprises a plurality of optical signal wavelengths outside the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, and in that the system further comprises a first pump source coupled to the second end terminal, the pump source being operable to generate a first pump signal that counter-propagates with the optical signal within at least a portion of the second transmission fiber, the at least a portion of the second transmission fiber comprising a distributed Raman amplifier operable to amplify the optical signal through Raman amplification, the first pump signal comprising at least one pump signal having a wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber and a power level, such that the ROPA introduces a loss of no more than four decibels to the optical signal including the plurality of optical signal wavelengths outside the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range, whereby the deployed unrepeatered optical communication system is thereby upgraded to expand its bandwidth capability without removing the ROPA that is configured to amplify wavelengths within the 1530-1565 nanometer wavelength range.