A new dispersion managed soliton transmission system where the D map period is the same as the amplifier period and the pulse breathing the in the +D sections of the D maps is approximately symmetrical. Pulse breathing symmetry by one or both of two techniques. In one technique a guiding filter is placed at the beginning of the D map period such that the guiding filter reduces the bandwidth of soliton pulses passing through it by a minimum amount. Consequently, pulse breathing symmetry is restored. The path average pulse energy vs. D behavior of solitons propagating through the D map is changed such that (1) solitons of modest bandwidths have adequate energy at or near D=to provide for error-free transmission over transoceanic distances at or near D=0, and (2) such that the path average pulse energy is nearly independent of D, at or near D=0 for solitons of various pulse widths. The transmission system having this D map is much more tolerant of variations in D and pulse width than the prior art. Another technique uses two different types of +D fiber in the +D section so that there is a step change in the ratio of D divided by the cross-sectional area of the fiber, or "A.sub.eff", as solitons propagate from one type of +D fiber to the other type of +D fiber in the +D section. This step change in ##EQU00001## nullifies the effects of the variation in pulse intensity thereby restoring the pulse breathing symmetry. Furthermore, through the use of intermediate Raman amplification, signal loss in transmission lines having very large amplifier periods, e.g., 80 km or 120 km, is overcome.