Optical communications system having chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion compensation

An optical communications system for compensating for dispersion imparted to a communications signal propagated through an optical link, comprising:

• a transmitter processor configured to digitally process the communications signal to be propagated through the optical link, based on a first compensation function, to generate a predistorted digital signal, wherein the first compensation function is determined to mitigate chromatic dispersion imparted by the optical link;
• an optical modulator in communication with the transmitter processor and configured to convert the predistorted digital signal into a predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical link;
• a transmitter peaking filter module configured to process the predistorted digital signal prior to conversion to the predistorted optical signal;
• a detector configured to receive the predistorted optical signal transmitted through the optical link and to generate a receiver electrical signal in response thereto;
• and
• a receiver processor in communication with the detector and configured to digitally process the receiver electrical signal, based on a second compensation function, to generate an output signal, the second compensation function determined to mitigate polarization mode dispersion, an extent of the mitigation of the polarization mode dispersion being dependent upon an extent to which the chromatic dispersion is mitigated,
• wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured to compensate for chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion, respectively, at baud rates exceeding 15 Gbaud.