KDDI issued a statement and apology in a press release regarding the grassland fire in Mongolia involving its subsidiary Mobicom, taking into account the circumstances of the response on the ground and developments involving those concerned. The fire broke out on 8 October in Numrug Nature Reserve, and an investigation by local authorities is ongoing.
Mobicom entered the area near a protected zone in eastern Mongolia from 6 to 8 October and travelled with vehicles positioned in front of and behind the vehicles operating at the request of the border guards. The work on site was reportedly intended to confirm 4G connectivity and check the condition of the telecommunications network that had been developed previously.
The fire is said to have started on the 8th while the convoy was stopped to remove grass inside the protected area, and it spread to the surrounding grass before expanding across a wide area. The cause and reasons for the fire’s spread remain under investigation, and firefighting operations were conducted under the direction of local authorities.
KDDI, as Mobicom’s parent company, has stated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation and work with Mobicom and the authorities to restore the burned natural environment and advance environmental conservation initiatives. It also stated that it had confirmed that no Mobicom employees had violated any laws or regulations.
Regarding the incident, the General Authority for Border Protection had authorised the convoy’s entry into the area, and details including the cause of the fire remain under investigation. The continued release of reliable information is awaited. KDDI has expressed its apologies to the people of Mongolia and those concerned.