A multimode pumping scheme for Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped waveguide amplifiers based on broad area lasers at around 980 nm is presented. The proposed amplifier is fabricated by ion-exchange (IE) technique on silicate and phosphate glasses. The highly efficient energy transfer from Yb3+ to Er3+ ions, combined with the use of low cost and high power broad area laser, allows the realization of high performance and costeffective integrated amplifiers. The structure has been designed and numerically studied using a 3D finite element modelling tool, and over 3 dB/cm small signal gain has been predicted for an optimized amplifier. Preliminary characterization of an amplifier structure provides a first experimental evidence of the novel multimode longitudinal pumping. © 2010 Optical Society of America.