A dispersion-managed optical soliton transmission system uses alternating spans of positive-dispersion optical fiber having a negative slope and negative-dispersion optical fiber having a positive slope. For wavelength division multiplexing, the system has a map strength preferably between 4 and 8. An absolute value of average group velocity dispersion between 0.5 and 0.0 ps.sup.2/km, and soliton power may vary between channels within 1 dB. Map periods, amplifier spacings, and dispersion values across a wavelength range of 1530 1600 nm are disclosed for bit rates of 10 and 40 Gbits/sec to maintain the ranges of average group velocity dispersion and soliton power.