An optical amplifier is disclosed having a relatively high gain and low noise figure across the broadband wavelength range. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical amplifier comprises an optical fiber including a core doped with a fluorescent material, the optical amplifier having an associated first noise figure. The optical amplifier also comprises a semiconductor optical amplifier portion being optically coupled to the optical fiber, the semiconductor optical amplifier portion having an associated second noise figure, wherein the first noise figure is less than the second noise figure.