An optical communications system, comprising a first node, first dispersion compensation fiber located in the first node, wherein the first dispersion compensation fiber induces dispersion onto optical signals passing through the first dispersion compensation fiber, a second node, a plurality of spans between the first and second nodes, and second dispersion compensation fiber located in at least one of the spans, wherein the second dispersion compensation fiber induces dispersion onto optical signals passing through the second dispersion compensation fiber, and wherein the dispersion induced by the second dispersion compensation fiber is opposite in sign to that induced by the first dispersion compensation fiber.