A communication system (200, 200a-e) comprising: a first trunk terminal ; a second trunk terminal ; a plurality of communication trunks disposed along a floor of a body of water, each communication trunk coupling the first trunk terminal (110, 1 10a) to the second trunk terminal , each communication trunk comprising at least one signal amplifier configured to amplify a signal conveyed along a corresponding communication trunk ; wherein each communication trunk includes multiple low-availability trunk links as independent failure domains comprising a plurality of optical fibers , wherein each one of the links is operational for a low-availability period of time below a threshold period of time, wherein the at least one signal amplifier includes pump laser diodes that provide power laser pump to each communication trunk and wherein a single pump laser diode is shared across two or more of the plurality of optical fibers ; and power feed equipment coupled to the plurality of communication trunks , the power feed equipment configured to: deliver power along each communication trunk to power at least one signal amplifier of the communication trunk ; receive a fault notification identifying a cable cut fault or an electrical shunt fault along a faulted communication trunk of the plurality of communication trunks ; in response to the fault notification identifying the cable cut fault, route traffic from the faulted communication trunk to at least one non-faulted communication trunk ; and in response to the fault notification identifying the electrical shunt fault, ceasing deliver of power along at least one communication trunk . a first trunk terminal ; a second trunk terminal ; a plurality of communication trunks disposed along a floor of a body of water, each communication trunk coupling the first trunk terminal (110, 1 10a) to the second trunk terminal , each communication trunk comprising at least one signal amplifier configured to amplify a signal conveyed along a corresponding communication trunk ; wherein each communication trunk includes multiple low-availability trunk links as independent failure domains comprising a plurality of optical fibers , wherein each one of the links is operational for a low-availability period of time below a threshold period of time, wherein the at least one signal amplifier includes pump laser diodes that provide power laser pump to each communication trunk and wherein a single pump laser diode is shared across two or more of the plurality of optical fibers ; and power feed equipment coupled to the plurality of communication trunks , the power feed equipment configured to: deliver power along each communication trunk to power at least one signal amplifier of the communication trunk ; receive a fault notification identifying a cable cut fault or an electrical shunt fault along a faulted communication trunk of the plurality of communication trunks ; in response to the fault notification identifying the cable cut fault, route traffic from the faulted communication trunk to at least one non-faulted communication trunk ; and in response to the fault notification identifying the electrical shunt fault, ceasing deliver of power along at least one communication trunk . deliver power along each communication trunk to power at least one signal amplifier of the communication trunk ; receive a fault notification identifying a cable cut fault or an electrical shunt fault along a faulted communication trunk of the plurality of communication trunks ; in response to the fault notification identifying the cable cut fault, route traffic from the faulted communication trunk to at least one non-faulted communication trunk ; and in response to the fault notification identifying the electrical shunt fault, ceasing deliver of power along at least one communication trunk . <EOS>