Highly scalable modular optical amplifier based subsystem

(Amended) An optical amplification system comprising:

• a dual optical amplifier building block for bidirectional line amplification of a plurality of optical channels propagating along a first and a second transmission line;
• an optical service channel (OSC) building block operatively connected to said dual optical amplifier building block for transmitting and receiving service information over a first and a second service channel;
• a first booster optical amplifier building block connected on said first transmission line at a first output of said dual optical amplifier building block;
• a second booster optical amplifier building block connected on said second transmission line at a second output of said dual optical amplifier building block;
• a grid-1 filter, connected between said first output and said first booster optical amplifier building block;
• a grid-2 filter, connected between said second output and said second booster optical amplifier building block;
• a first Raman source of optical power connected at the input of said dual optical amplifier on said first transmission line for back pumping light;
• and
• a second Raman source of optical power connected at the input of said dual optical amplifier on said second transmission line for back pumping light.

(Amended) An optical amplification system comprising:

• an optical multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of optical signals received over a plurality of input transmission lines and providing a forward multichannel optical signal;
• a dual optical amplifier building block for amplifying said forward multichannel optical signal and amplifying a reverse multichannel optical signal;
• an optical demultiplexer for receiving said reverse multichannel optical signal and separating same into a plurality of optical channels for transmission over a plurality of transmission lines;
• an optical service channel (OSC) building block operatively connected to said dual optical amplifier building block for transmitting and receiving service information over an optical service channel;
• a first Raman source of optical power connected at the input of said dual optical amplifier on said first transmission line for back pumping light;
• and
• a second Raman source of optical power connected at the input of said dual optical amplifier on said second transmission line for back pumping light.