Systems and methods for minimizing signal power and providing reduced Raman pump depletion for WDM optical system

An optical transmission system with two counter propagating wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals carried by an optical fiber transmission line, has a first Raman pump for launching a first beam of pump energy for amplifying both WDM signals so that the first beam counter-propagates with respect to a first WDM signal The system also includes a second Raman pump for launching a second beam of pump energy for amplifying both WDM signals so that the second beam counter-propagates with respect to a second WDM signal.