Philips Digital Networks has announced that its organization within Philips Electronics (Thailand) Ltd has been awarded the contract to design, build and commission a multimedia production facility for Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) of Bangkok. The turnkey project is worth several million US dollars.

Under the agreement, Philips will design and build a professional production and post-production facility comprising latest technology digital broadcast equipment. The facility will be used by SUT as a multi-media centre for research and education. The centre will contain a digital production/news studio with Philips' state-of-the-art digital cameras and production switcher. In addition, it will include a non-linear editing suite, a computer graphics system and a digital surround sound editing and recording lab. The various rooms will be interconnected through an advanced networking system.

The project will be implemented on a full turnkey basis, including the supervision of civil works. SUT has also asked Philips to provide operation management services for a number of years, during which skill transfer to SUT personnel will take place.

When commissioned in mid 2001, SUT's multimedia production facility will be the first of its kind in Thailand. It will provide students with the chance to produce audio, video and multimedia content using state-of-the-art TV, radio and computer graphics technology and advanced 2D and 3D animation tools. The centre will support the university's vision of the 'virtual campus', where study and teaching are no longer restricted to classrooms and education can also be provided over the Internet.