A multimode optical transmission system and method that employs a higher-order-mode (HOM)-filter fiber. The system includes a transmitter has a light source that generates modulated light and that has a spatially non-uniform light emission. The system also has an optical receiver with a photodetector that receives and detects the modulated light. A multimode optical fiber link that includes a multimode optical fiber optically connects the light source and the photodetector. At least one HOM-filter fiber is optically connected to the multimode optical fiber. The HOM-filter fiber is configured to gives rise to an optical loss of 1 dB or less while increasing the modal bandwidth of the system by at least 10% as compared to using only the multimode optical fiber.