Optical amplification by combining two or more optical signals from separate optical fibers, amplifying the combined signal using an optical fiber, and separating the amplified signals into their constituent optical signals. The separated optical signals may then be sent further in the direction they had been heading before combination. This allows multiple optical signals to be amplified using a single optical amplifier, perhaps even in a single optical fiber. Although not required, the two optical signals may even be travelling in different directions.