The development of fast amplifying switch operating at 1.55-mu m wavelength is of particular interest as active element in optical communication systems. We report the first vertical-cavity amplifying photonic switch (VCAPS) at 1.55-mu m wavelength, with a 14-dB gain and 10-ps commutation time, This structure is fabricated by the epitaxial lift-off technique and is composed of a resonant periodic gain multiple quantum wells active layers sandwiched between a SiO2-Au back mirror based on Si substrate and a Si-SiO2 front mirror.