Characterization study of Bismuth-based Erbium-doped Fibre (Bi-EDF) and its performance as gain medium for L-band Erbium-doped Fibre Amplifier (EDFA) is studied. Bismuth oxide glass host enables very high erbium doping concentration without significant concentration quenching effect. The Bi-EDF studied is only 2.15m long with Erbium ion concentration of 3,250 wt. ppm. corresponding to a maximum absorption coefficient of 157.61dB/m at 1530nm. With optimum excitation, Bi-EDFA exhibits small signal gain bandwidth of over 70nm ranging from 1550nm to 1620nm. Maximum signal gain per length...