Method and apparatus for reducing nonlinear penalties by proper arrangement of the dispersion map in an optical communication system

An optical transmission system comprising:

• a transmitting and receiving tenninal for transmitting and receiving, respectively, an optical signal having a plurality of channels;
• an optical fiber transmission path coupling said transmitting and receiving terminals, wherein said fiber transmission path has a dispersion substantially equal to zero for a selected channel and positive dispersion for a first set of channels and negative dispersion for a second set of channels;
• means for providing positive dispersion compensation to the second set of channels at or adjacent said transmitting terminal;
• and
• means for providing negative dispersion compensation to the first set of channels at or adjacent said receiving terminal.

A method of transmitting an optical signal through an optical transmission system, said system including a transmitting and receiving terminal for transmitting and receiving, respectively, an optical signal, and an optical fiber transmission path coupling said transmitting and receiving terminals, wherein said fiber transmission path has a dispersion substantially equal to zero for a selected channel and positive dispersion for a first set of channels and negative dispersion for a second set of channels, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a WDM optical signal having a plurality of channels that includes the first and second sets of channels;
• transmitting said optical signal through the transmission path;
• providing positive dispersion compensation to the second set of channels at or adjacent said transmitting terminal;
• and
• providing negative dispersion compensation to the first set of channels at or adjacent said receiving terminal.