An optical transmission link pumped with multiple orders Raman pumps on both ends of the link is disclosed. At least one first-order Raman pump and at least two higher-order Raman pumps are provided on each end for reducing optical power variation of the optical signal along the optical transmission link. Wavelengths and optical power levels of the multiple-order Raman pumps and the additional Raman pump(s) can be selected by computer simulation to lessen the spatial optical power variation of the optical signal.