An optical communication system includes a transmission fiber that is operable to receive at least one optical signal and at least one pump signal. The optical signal includes one or more optical signal wavelengths and a power level at approximately a minimum threshold power level. The pump signal co-propagates with at least a portion of the optical signal over at least a portion of the transmission fiber. In one particular embodiment, the pump signal operates to amplify the optical signal to approximately a maximum threshold power level as the pump signal and the optical signal traverse the portion of the transmission fiber.