An optical communications system including a plurality of modulated radio frequency carriers which span more than an octave in bandwidth. In one implementation, the carriers are grouped into ranges which span less than octave in bandwidth and separately transmitted over uique optical links. In another implementation, the groups are multiplexed on one optical link by using different wavelengths. In still another implementation, several of the bands are up-converted to the highest band of interest and then transmitted, either over single or multiple links. The resulting signals are demodulated and then down-converted before they are recombined into the broadband signal in excess of an octave in bandwidth.