A new material based on Er3+-exchanged zeolite L crystals, in which oxygen vacancies have been generated, is proposed as an efficient emitter in the near infrared third telecommunication window. The rare earth ions photoluminescence is efficiently generated by energy transfer from the excited oxygen vacancies, which act as wide range light harvesters. The proposed material can be excited in the whole Near UV-VIS-NIR spectral range from 355 to 700 nm, thus representing the first step toward versatile, zeolite based NIR sources that can be excited with white light. © the Owner Societies. 2011.