CHICAGO -- Light Reading's Big Telecom Event 2014 -- After months of anticipation, Light Reading's Big Telecom is finally here, shaking things up in the Windy City.

Day one saw more than 1,500 attendees -- 60% of which were from service providers -- come to Chicago from across the globe to geek out on the network. Click on the image below for a brief look at the sites and scenes of day one.

Photos are by Light Reading art director Sasha Babarina, but the captions are not her fault.

For all the coverage from the show, check out our dedicated BTE Show Site.

— The Staff, Light Reading