Methods and systems for data transmission

An optical transmitter comprising:

• a first encoder configured to encode data using a staircase code to generate first codewords;
• a first interleaver configured to interleave the first codewords using convolutional interleaving to spread a transmission order of the first codewords, the convolutional interleaving comprising outputting blocks of a predetermined number of consecutive bits from the first codewords in a sequence that spreads burst errors across the first codewords generated using the staircase code;
• a second encoder configured to encode the interleaved first codewords using a second code to generate second codewords;
• a mapper configured to map the second codewords to transmit symbols;
• a second interleaver configured to interleave the transmit symbols to distribute the transmit symbols between pilot symbols;
• and
• a frame generator configured to generate a transmit frame including the interleaved transmit symbols and the pilot symbols,
• wherein the optical transmitter is configured to transmit the generated transmit frame to a receiver over a communication channel.