An optical fiber preform includes a core made from a fluoride glass which is doped with a rare earth, and a cladding surrounding the core. The cladding is made from one of an oxide glass and a fluoroxide glass. The core has a characteristic of amplification at 1.3 .mu.m-band. The cladding does not have absorption at 1.3 .mu.m-band. The preform is useful as a material for a fiber optical amplifier in optical communication systems.