Systems and methods are disclosed including a subsea link idler apparatus comprising at least one data laser generating a first laser beam as a data signal, having a first frequency within a first data channel bandwidth slot; a first continuous wave laser generating a second laser beam with a first polarization and a second frequency being within a second data channel bandwidth slot; a second continuous wave laser generating a third laser beam with a second polarization different from the first polarization and a third frequency being offset from the second frequency and being within the second data channel bandwidth slot; a polarization beam combiner positioned in paths of the second and third laser beams combining the second and third laser beams into an idler signal; and a transmitter receiving and transmitting the data signal and idler signal.