One embodiment provides a system for measuring optical fiber channel loss in photonic communication. During operation, a first multiplexing device receives a first signal which is a photonic signal and a second signal which is a reference light signal transmitted by a first measuring device. In response, the first multiplexing device couples the first signal with the second signal, and transmits the coupled signal via an optical fiber channel to a second multiplexing device. The second multiplexing device separates the coupled signal into a separated first signal and a separated second signal, and transmits the separated second signal to a second measuring device. The system obtains indices related to a degree of loss of the optical fiber channel based on the separated second signal.