A bidirectional optical communication link , OCL, (1) comprising a first optical transmission link, OTL1, adapted to transmit an optical signal from a near-end location (NEL) via a first optical fiber (2-1) to a remote-end location (REL); and a second optical transmission link, OTL2, adapted to transmit an optical signal from the remote-end location (REL) via a second optical fiber (2-2) to the near-end location(NEL); wherein at least one of the optical transmission links, OTL1, OTL2, comprises a remote optically pumped amplifier, ROPA, (3-1,3-3) having a gain medium which is pumped with pump light received by that gain medium through a third optical fiber (4) from a pump laser source provided at the near-end location (NEL) or provided at the remote-end location (REL) to supply the gain medium of the remote optical pump amplifier, ROPA, (3-1,3-2) with pump power.