  We present a novel method to reduce the number of repeaters and amplifiers in
trans-oceanic links by distributing a given data capacity in spatial channels.
We analytically, numerically and experimentally demonstrate the principle and
show that about 40% of the repeaters can be omitted compared to a recently
deployed cable. The method predicts that a single-fiber transmission link with
50 km amplifier spacing would be better off, repeater-wise, if the targeted
single-fiber capacity is distributed in two fibers, each with an amplifier
spacing of 150 km. In this scenario, one would thus only require 2/3 of the
original number of amplifiers, and only 1/3 of the number of repeaters, housing
the amplifiers. To test the principle of the proposed method, we experimentally
and numerically investigate a 6900-km long link with amplifier spacing of 50
and 150 km using a recirculating fiber transmission loop,and find that the
result supports the analytical model and thus the proposed method. We then use
this concept to analytically investigate a realistic 12-fiber pair cable, and
find that the same capacity could be distributed in 16 fiber pairs requiring
only about 60% of the original number of repeaters.
