A 15dB, gain controlled, 1480nm pumped, erbium doped silica fibre ampl
ifier is demonstrated with < 0.2dB of gain variation for signal input
levels up to -5dBm. Gain control is effected by concomitant lasing at
1520nm using Bragg grating reflectors. No error rate penalty is observ
ed for a signal modulated at 2.5Gbit/s.