An optical communication system comprising: a first optical fiber path having a first plurality of dimensions, a dimension being a distinguishable optical data pathway, the first optical fiber path being configured to carry first spatial division multiplexed SDM signals in a first direction, wherein the first optical fiber path comprises a first optical fiber having the first plurality of dimensions; a second optical fiber path having a second plurality of dimensions, the second optical fiber path being configured to carry second SDM signals in a second direction; and at least one optical amplifier assembly (308-1..308n) configured for amplifying the first and second SDM signals, the at least one optical amplifier assembly (308-1..308n) comprising a first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n), each of the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n) being coupled to an associated one of the first plurality of dimensions of the first optical fiber path for amplifying the associated one of the first plurality of dimensions, a second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n), each of the second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n) being coupled to an associated one of the second plurality of dimensions of the second optical fiber path for amplifying the associated one of the second plurality of dimensions, and an optical pump assembly (318-1..318N) configured for pumping the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n) and the second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n), the optical pump assembly (318-1..318n) comprising: an optical pump unit (118-1..118n) consisting of a plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) configured to provide at least a first pump output and a second pump output, each of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) being coupled to both the first and second pump outputs to provide redundancy in the event of failure of one of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206), the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) having a number of pump sources less than separately (i) the number of the first plurality of dimensions and (ii) the number of the second plurality of dimensions, a first splitter configured to split the first pump output to each of the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n), and a second splitter configured to split the second pump output to each of the second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n). a first optical fiber path having a first plurality of dimensions, a dimension being a distinguishable optical data pathway, the first optical fiber path being configured to carry first spatial division multiplexed SDM signals in a first direction, wherein the first optical fiber path comprises a first optical fiber having the first plurality of dimensions; a second optical fiber path having a second plurality of dimensions, the second optical fiber path being configured to carry second SDM signals in a second direction; and at least one optical amplifier assembly (308-1..308n) configured for amplifying the first and second SDM signals, the at least one optical amplifier assembly (308-1..308n) comprising a first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n), each of the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n) being coupled to an associated one of the first plurality of dimensions of the first optical fiber path for amplifying the associated one of the first plurality of dimensions, a second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n), each of the second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n) being coupled to an associated one of the second plurality of dimensions of the second optical fiber path for amplifying the associated one of the second plurality of dimensions, and an optical pump assembly (318-1..318N) configured for pumping the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n) and the second plurality of optical amplifiers (316-1..316n), the optical pump assembly (318-1..318n) comprising: an optical pump unit (118-1..118n) consisting of a plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) configured to provide at least a first pump output and a second pump output, each of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) being coupled to both the first and second pump outputs to provide redundancy in the event of failure of one of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206), the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) having a number of pump sources less than separately (i) the number of the first plurality of dimensions and (ii) the number of the second plurality of dimensions, a first splitter configured to split the first pump output to each of the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n), and an optical pump unit (118-1..118n) consisting of a plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) configured to provide at least a first pump output and a second pump output, each of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) being coupled to both the first and second pump outputs to provide redundancy in the event of failure of one of the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206), the plurality of pump sources (202, 204, 206) having a number of pump sources less than separately (i) the number of the first plurality of dimensions and (ii) the number of the second plurality of dimensions, a first splitter configured to split the first pump output to each of the first plurality of optical amplifiers (314-1..314n), and