Disclosed are refractive index profiles for total dispersion compensating optical waveguide fibers for use in high data rate, long length telecommunications systems. The optical waveguide fibers in accord with the invention provide substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over a range of wavelengths, thus facilitating wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also disclosed are spans of optical waveguide fiber that include a length of transmission fiber together with a length of the compensating fiber. The spans are joined end to end in series arrangement to form the optical waveguide fiber part of a telecommunication system.
