Er 3+ /Ce 3+ co-doped tellurite-based glasses with composition of TeO 2 -ZnO-Na 2 O are prepared by high- temperature melt-quenching technique. Effects of Ce 2 O 3 content on the 1.53 μm band fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime of Er 3+ are measured and investigated. It is found that the tellurite glass containing Ce 2 O 3 with molar concentration of 0.25% exhibits an increment of 13% in 1.53 μm fluorescence intensity and an increment of 15% in the 4 I 13/2 level lifetime. The results indicate that the prepared tellurite-based glass with a suitable Er 3+ /Ce 3+ codoping concentration is an excellent gain medium applied for broadband Er 3+ -doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) pumped with a 980 nm laser diode.