A method for using a bi-direction optical link having an eastern optical link for communication from a first node to a second node in an optical communications system, and a western optical link for communication from the second node to the first node in an optical communications system, the method comprising: an act of receiving a western optical signal on the western fiber link; an act of backward Raman amplifying the western optical signal using backward Raman pump optical power; after a portion of the backward Raman pump optical power has been consumed in the act of backward Raman amplifying, an act of using at least a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power to power a western backward optically pumped amplifier; after a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power has been used to power the western backward optically pumped amplifier, an act of diverting at least a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power to the eastern optical link, where at least some of the diverted optical power is used to power an eastern optically pumped amplifier for amplification of an eastern optical signal in the eastern optical link, wherein the eastern optically pumped amplifier is positioned to the west of a place in which the diverted portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power enters the eastern optical link, the method further comprising: an act of transmitting an eastern optical signal on the eastern fiber link; an act of forward Raman amplifying the eastern optical signal using forward Raman pump optical power; after a portion of the forward Raman pump optical power has been consumed in the act of forward Raman amplifying, an act of using at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier; after a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power has been used to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier, an act of diverting at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to the western optical link, where at least some of the diverted optical power from the eastern optical link is used to power the western backward optically pumped amplifier for amplification of the western optical signal in the western optical link. an act of receiving a western optical signal on the western fiber link; an act of backward Raman amplifying the western optical signal using backward Raman pump optical power; after a portion of the backward Raman pump optical power has been consumed in the act of backward Raman amplifying, an act of using at least a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power to power a western backward optically pumped amplifier; after a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power has been used to power the western backward optically pumped amplifier, an act of diverting at least a portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power to the eastern optical link, where at least some of the diverted optical power is used to power an eastern optically pumped amplifier for amplification of an eastern optical signal in the eastern optical link, wherein the eastern optically pumped amplifier is positioned to the west of a place in which the diverted portion of the residual backward Raman pump optical power enters the eastern optical link, the method further comprising: an act of transmitting an eastern optical signal on the eastern fiber link; an act of forward Raman amplifying the eastern optical signal using forward Raman pump optical power; after a portion of the forward Raman pump optical power has been consumed in the act of forward Raman amplifying, an act of using at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier; after a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power has been used to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier, an act of diverting at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to the western optical link, where at least some of the diverted optical power from the eastern optical link is used to power the western backward optically pumped amplifier for amplification of the western optical signal in the western optical link. an act of transmitting an eastern optical signal on the eastern fiber link; an act of forward Raman amplifying the eastern optical signal using forward Raman pump optical power; after a portion of the forward Raman pump optical power has been consumed in the act of forward Raman amplifying, an act of using at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier; after a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power has been used to power the eastern optically pumped amplifier, an act of diverting at least a portion of the residual forward Raman pump optical power to the western optical link, where at least some of the diverted optical power from the eastern optical link is used to power the western backward optically pumped amplifier for amplification of the western optical signal in the western optical link.