The invention relates to an optical network element (100; 200), particularly an optical line terminal, OLT, for transmitting (540) and receiving (560) signals wire an optical network that comprises at least one optical fiber link (500) and at least one further optical network element (300; 400). The optical network element (100; 200) provides a primary optical pumping mean (166; 266) for emitting optical pump power to set at least one optical fiber link (500). The emitted optical pump power forms at least one gain medium outside the optical network element (100; 200) to provide optical pump power to the network for amplifying the singles to receive (560) so that outside of the domain of the optical network element (100) no electrical energy supply is needed.