KDDI Corp. said Monday it will deploy drones at 1,000 locations across Japan to use the flying devices, equipped with cameras and sensors, as part of efforts to respond quickly to earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Through a partnership with U.S. drone company Skydio Inc., the Japanese telecom company aims to build a network of drones, enabling the devices to reach disaster-hit areas anywhere in Japan in about 10 minutes, to help find people stranded at disaster sites, inspect roads, bridges and other disaster-affected structures, KDDI said.

Skydio is a leading drone provider in the United States that utilizes artificial intelligence technology, KDDI said.

==Kyodo

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