In an optical communications link, an optical system including: at least a first input port for delivering an optical signal travelling in the communications link, the optical signal including a plurality of wavelength channels, the channels being utilized for carrying optical information over an optical data link; a dispersive element for spatially separating the wavelength channels; an active optical-phase element; and a plurality of optical manipulation elements for directing the spatially separated channels between the dispersive element and the optical phase element wherein, the optical phase element independently modifies the phase of predetermined ones of the wavelength channel in a predetermined and decoupled manner for substantial compensation of signal degradation effects imparted to the wavelength channels by said communications link.