Thulium-doped PLZT transparent ceramic is proposed as a new material for photonic applications in the near-infrared wavelength region (1.8 and 1.44 mu m). In this work, its structural and spectroscopic characteristics are investigated through ground state absorption, luminescence and excited state lifetime measurements. The results are discussed in terms of energy transfer processes among Tin ions as the cross relaxation H-3(4), H-3(6) -> H-3(4), H-3(4) and the energy migrations H-3(4), H-3(6) -> H-3(6), H-3(4) and F-3(4), H-3(6) -> H-3(6), F-3(4). Excellent thermal and mechanical properties associated with desirable spectroscopic characteristics suggest that PLZT:Tm3+ is a potential laser active medium, worth of further development and investigations. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.