0.5at% and 1.0at% Er/Y co-doped silicate glasses with different Y2O3 concen trations were fabricated by means of high-temperature solid-state reaction, with the Y concentration varying from 0.0at%—2.5at% and 0.0at%—5.0at%, respectively. By measuring the absorption spectra, the photoluminescence (PL) and PL decay, we studied the dependence of absorption and emission cross-section at 1530nm and the lifetime and PL features on Y concentration. The results showed that Y co-doping enabled the absorption peak to widen and enhanced the absorption. The lifetime was prolonged considerably, especially for the highly Er-doped silicate glasses. However, considerable enhancement of PL intensity was not detected when the glasses were excited by a 980nm laser.