Telemetry for optical fiber amplifier repeater

In this invention telemetry information is transmitted in an optical fiber communication system by providing an amplifier pump (74) with excess power beyond that necessary to pump the amplifier (51). The excess power is not used to pump the amplifier but is rather used to transmit the telemetry information. In a specific embodiment, an optical communication system including a doped optical fiber amplifier such as, for example, an erbium doped amplifier, is provided with an amplifier pump which operates at approximately 1.48µm. The amplifier pump is provided with excess power so as to transmit telemetry information. In a specific embodiment, the telemetry signal can be detected with a low cost photodetector (54) at a subsequent station.