An optical communications system includes a plurality of optical fiber spans. An optical loss of one of the plurality of optical fiber spans is different from an optical loss of another one of the plurality of optical fiber spans. At least one of the plurality of optical fiber spans includes an optical loss that is greater than or equal to 35 dB and at least one of the plurality of optical fiber spans includes an optical loss that is less than 30 dB. An optical amplification system includes at least one discrete optical amplifier, at least one distributed optical amplifier, and an optical loss element. The optical amplification system has spectral gain that compensates for substantially all losses experienced by the optical signals propagating in the plurality of optical fiber spans.