AUSTIN, Texas -- Big Communications Event (BCE) -- Light Reading's BCE was held deep in the heart of Texas this year in Austin, which, of course meant Texas-sized portions of BBQ, live music, networking, keynotes by industry leaders and technology panels.
The action in Austin got underway with the well-attended Women in Comms event on Monday, which was followed that evening by the sometimes raucous Leading Lights Awards at the Ella Hotel in Austin.
Light Reading Founder and CEO Steve Saunders kicked off BCE on Tuesday morning with his keynote address, and was followed on stage by Deutsche Telekom's Axel Clauberg. Clauberg spoke about the need for communications service providers to replace their legacy OSS/BSS systems, and to break out of the current "vendor prison."
It was definitely not all work and no play in Austin. The BCE party Tuesday night featured an open bar, live music and delicious Mexican food at the Container Bar in Austin.
Check out this Telco Transformation slideshow from Austin to see some of the action at this year's event.