In this paper, we address the key enabling technologies for long-span WDM transmissions at 40 Gbit/s. Experimental results of 1.28 Tbit/s (32 40 Gbit/s) unrepeatered transmission over 240 km of conventional 80-µm2 NDSF will be reported. Bi-directional pumped distributed Raman amplification has allowed a record unrepeatered WDM transmission distance over this fibre type, without using effective-area-enlarged fibres or remotely pumped EDFAs.