A broadband optical amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier includes an input having
a plurality of optical wavelengths, including optical wavelengths between 1610
and 1620 nanometers, and a first optical splitter optically connected to the input.
The first optical splitter splits the input into a first band signal portion, a
second band signal portion, and a third band signal portion. An amplifying portion
is optically disposed along each of the first, second, and third band signal portions
optically downstream from the first optical splitter. A first optical combiner
is optically connected to the first, second, and third band signal portions to
form an output. A method of amplifying a broadband optical signal is also disclosed.
