Network APIs are driving innovation at MWC Barcelona’s Open Gateway Hackathon
At MWC Barcelona’s Open Gateway Hackathon, developers leveraged Nokia’s Network as Code to build 5G-powered applications.
March 17, 2025
Developers in action, harnessing network APIs to shape the future of connectivity.
Excitement was rippling through the Talent Arena as developers across Europe gathered at Mobile World Congress Open Gateway Hackathon, Barcelona, Spain. The challenge was set: to harness the power of programmable networks using Nokia’s Network as Code platform and develop solutions that could revolutionize industries and redefine user experiences.
Sponsored by Nokia and organized by Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the two-day hackathon provided a stage for developers to experiment with live 5G networks provided by Spain’s major operators Telefónica, Vodafone, and MasOrange and Network as Code APIs to develop groundbreaking applications.
Over a hundred developers participated with a shared determination to build something innovative using the live 5G networks and network APIs. These developers were given access to Nokia’s Network as Code platform, allowing them to utilize a set of eight powerful network APIs, including Quality of Service on Demand (QoD), Device Location, and Device Status.
From code to connectivity
The hackathon demonstrated the transformative potential of network APIs. Just as developers can easily integrate payment or mapping APIs, they can now do the same with network functions like optimizing connectivity in crowded spaces using network APIs. Previously, network APIs were complex and hard to use, but the Open Gateway Initiative and Nokia’s Network as Code have simplified them, making these network capabilities more accessible.
Participants tested the ease of that accessibility by dynamically enhancing connectivity, optimizing network performance, and unlocking capabilities that had previously been out of reach for software developers outside the telecom industry. It was inspiring to see teams dive into the challenge, using these APIs to build real, impactful solutions.
And the winners are...
One of the highlights of the event was the final pitch session, where teams showcased their solutions. The winning team, OnTime, developed an application that addresses a critical issue for Catalonia’s commuters by optimizing real-time train schedules. Their app enables users to:
- Monitor train schedules and predict delays
- Assess station congestion levels
- Leverage crowd-sourced user data to enhance travel efficiency
With over 80,000 daily public transportation users and nearly 50% of trains experiencing delays, OnTime demonstrated how they aim to improve the commuting experience using the Population Density API and Location Verification API, to provide real-time insights and validate community-driven updates.
What makes OnTime particularly innovative is its model that combines crowd-sourced inputs with network API data. This fusion allows for a more comprehensive and accurate view of transit conditions. Crowd-sourced inputs provide real-time, human-reported insights and network APIs offer validation and enhancement of this information, ensuring greater reliability. This model has significant potential beyond transportation, with applications in public safety, large-scale events, and urban planning, where both user-driven and network-driven insights are critical for decision-making.
Network APIs are the future!
As the event wrapped up, one thing was clear: network APIs are poised to revolutionize application development, impacting sectors like smart mobility, immersive gaming, emergency response, and fintech security.
At Nokia, we remain committed to empowering developers in their journey to unlock the power of 5G networks. Since our first hackathon at MWC Barcelona 2024, we have organized six hackathons to date, each building on the last to drive real-world innovation using Network as Code. This latest event was our first major one of 2025, a continuation of our commitment to engage the developer community.
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