Optical fiber has evolved from a not-so-transparent glass tube to an extraordinarily efficient transmission medium. It is now acknowledged as a central element of modern telecommunication being part of the whole optimization process to further improve transmission system performance and cost. In this paper, we briefly introduce transmission system optimization problematics as well as key fiber characteristics. We then review the elements of fiber design for optimized optical communication networks, including metropolitan, long and ultra-long haul applications and show how fibers have evolved over the last ten years to keep pace with more and more demanding requirement of transmission system.