An optical waveguide including a core having silica, Al, a non-fluorescent rare-earth ion, Ge, Er, and Tm. The non-fluorescent rare-earth ion may be La. Exemplary compositions concentrations are Er is from 15 ppm to 3000 ppm, Al is from 0.5 mol % to 12 mol %, La is less than or equal to 2 mol %, Tm is from 15 ppm to 10,000 ppm; and the Ge is less than or equal to 15 mol %. The core may further include F. An exemplary concentration of F is less than or equal to 6 anion mol %.