There is provided method for transmitting binary data contained in respective successive time cells, the data being in the form of an optical signal obtained by amplitude modulation and frequency modulation of an optical carrier wave, with a 0 bit data value having a 0 bit mean amplitude having a 0 bit amplitude time duration and a 0 bit frequency having a 0 bit frequency duration, and a 1 bit data value having a 1 bit mean amplitude having a 1 bit amplitude time duration and a 1 bit frequency having a 1 bit frequency duration; the improvement wherein: independently adjusting the 0 bit mean amplitude relative to the 1 bit mean amplitude; independently adjusting the 0 bit frequency relative to the 1 bit frequency; and independently adjusting time duration of the frequency profile of the 1 bit relative to the time duration of the amplitude profile of the 1 bit, whereby to extend the error-free propagation of the optical signal though a dispersive optical fiber beyond the dispersion limit. There is provided a method for transmitting Non-Return-To-Zero (NRZ) binary data contained in respective successive time cells, the data being in the form of an optical signal obtained by amplitude modulation and frequency modulation of an optical carrier wave, with a 0 bit data value having a 0 bit mean amplitude having a 0 bit amplitude time duration and a 0 bit frequency having a 0 bit frequency duration, and a 1 bit data value having a 1 bit mean amplitude having a 1 bit amplitude time duration and a 1 bit frequency having a 1 bit frequency duration; the improvement wherein: the phase across each 1 bit data value is substantially constant, and the phase of the carrier changes across each and every 0 bit by an amount equal to the product of the frequency difference between the 1 bit and the 0 bit and the duration of the 0 bit; whereby to extend the error-free propagation of the optical signal though a dispersive optical fiber beyond the dispersion limit. In accordance with one form of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmitting binary data contained in respective successive time cells, the data being in the form of an optical signal obtained by amplitude modulation and frequency modulation of an optical carrier wave, with a 0 bit data value having a 0 bit mean amplitude having a 0 bit amplitude time duration and a 0 bit frequency having a 0 bit frequency duration, and a 1 bit data value having a 1 bit mean amplitude having a 1 bit amplitude time duration and a 1 bit frequency having a 1 bit frequency duration; the improvement wherein: the amplitude profile of the 1 bit is substantially bell-shaped, and the frequency profile of the 1 bit is substantially square-shaped, with steeper rise and fall time and a wider flat top region; whereby to extend the error-free propagation of the optical signal though a dispersive optical fiber beyond the dispersion limit.