From its beginnings as a casual gathering of network engineers in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Network Operators Group (mnNOG) has grown into an engaged community of professionals committed to improving Mongolia’s Internet infrastructure and operations. mnNOG 7, held from 29 September to 3 October 2025, was a testament to the strength of this community and its continued commitment to collaboration, learning, and progress.
Hosted at the Glory Resort in Terelj, mnNOG 7 welcomed over 190 participants. The agenda featured a rich mix of technical sessions, keynote speeches, and panel discussions, all designed to enable knowledge exchange and address pressing operational challenges.
The opening plenary set the tone, with Unitel’s Ganbold Ravjin reflecting on navigating the ‘new normal’ and AI’s expanding role in network operations. NSRC’s Hervey Allen continued the theme, tracing AI’s evolution from early neural networks to today’s large language models, highlighting the rise of ‘vibe coding’ and AI’s influence on collaborative software development.
Technical sessions, which you can now watch on YouTube, covered a wide range of topics from deployment automation and open source solutions to IPv6 scanning and traffic dashboards powered by Grafana.
A panel discussion on fibre optic infrastructure in Ulaanbaatar sparked important conversations around regulatory hurdles and the need for coordinated action to improve cable duct access and expansion. The panel discussion explored challenges in optical cable installation, government regulations, and the stalled expansion of cable ducts. Panellists included representatives from the CRC (Communications Regulatory Commission of Mongolia), Netcom, the government-owned entity responsible for managing all cable ducts and mapping infrastructure, as well as major telcos and network service providers, such as Mobinet and Univision.
APNIC at mnNOG 7
APNIC’s presence at mnNOG 7 was multifaceted. The APNIC Executive Council (EC) was represented on the agenda by Yoshinobu ‘Maz’ Matsuzaki, who delivered ‘A Day in the Life of IPv6 Scanning’ and Achie Atenza, who delivered a community update. Roopinder Singh Perhar also attended the conference.
Watch Maz’s mnNOG 7 presentation.
APNIC Academy delivered the Segment Routing Workshop, led by Makito Lay and local APNIC Community Trainer Ulsaa Enkhtaivan. The workshop attracted strong interest, drawing 23 participants, offering hands-on insights into segment routing concepts and real-world applications. Through targeted lab exercises, attendees were able to bridge theory with practice, gaining valuable experience in implementing segment routing solutions.
APNIC hosted a booth to engage with Members, covering IP resource management, the referral program, and updates on the upcoming APRICOT 2026 / APNIC 61 event, while also conducting Member visits to better understand local needs. The APNIC booth attracted strong interest from the local community, including university students who received fellowships for the event, NBCCOLTD, which continues to lead in standards adoption, and the founding members of the local Internet Society chapter.
Member visits revealed a dynamic and evolving landscape: SSYSTEMS is emerging as a key data centre provider, while ICNC, the government-owned upstream provider, is exploring ways to enhance national redundancy.
The conference also served as a platform for future planning. Discussions with mnNOG’s leadership and volunteers explored the possibility of hosting APNIC 64 in Ulaanbaatar. The enthusiasm and support from the local community, including stakeholders like ErdemNet and the CRC, signal a strong foundation for such an event.
mnNOG’s strength lies not just in its technical depth but in its community spirit. The Program and Coordination Committees, comprising volunteers from across the sector, worked tirelessly to ensure the event’s success. Their efforts were recognized during the closing remarks, with several individuals, including myself, being acknowledged as standout contributors.
mnNOG 7 was a very well-organized event and is fully supported by the local and international communities, government, and sponsors. It highlighted the strength of collaboration and how far mnNOG has come — growing from informal meetups to a regionally recognized event. APNIC is pleased to continue participating in this growing community and looks forward to its ongoing development.
The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct applies to this blog.