A self-amplified communication system or network (SANE) is disclosed in which one or more regions of an amplifying medium are optically pumped by some or all light sources in the system. The light sources serve as both signal light beam sources and as pump sources providing pump light beams for the amplifying regions. The transmission medium may be an optical fiber, or may be a free-space or planar waveguide transmission medium. The amplifying medium may be in a fiber, waveguide or bulk geometry, and may be local to a pump source, remotely located in the system, or even distributed within the transmission medium. Fixed optical paths with or without transmission of some pump light through an optical amplifier are used. Network topology configurations may be provided, such as point-to-point, star, or ring arrangements. Communication uplinks and downlinks may operate at the same or different wavelengths; and gain may be provided for uplink, downlink, or both.