Erbium (Er): Telecommunications HREE

Overview

• Atomic Number: 68 | Production: ~800 tonnes/year
• Primary use: Fiber optic amplifiers (EDFA)
• Secondary use: Metallurgy, specialty alloys

Applications

• Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) for long-distance telecommunications
• Erbium alloys in specialty metallurgy
• Research instruments

Market Drivers

• Telecom infrastructure spending
• 5G/6G network buildout
• Data center connectivity growth

Investment Profile

• Er is bundled HREE exposure through integrated producers
• Telecom infrastructure provides growth tailwind