Oman’s Ministry of Information has awarded Japan’s Sony Broadcast & Professional a OR26.6m ($69m) contract to provide technical fit-out services for two television centres in Oman.

Sony saw off competition from another six bidders, which included Qatar’s Salam Media Cast and Germany’ Siemens.

The first part of the contract includes the technical fit-out of the new digital TV studio complex in Muscat. The second part involves the refurbishment of the Salalah TV Centre.

Sony will provide all of the studio and broadcasting equipment for the two TV centres.The work estimated completion date of the project is November 2011.

The ministry recently received bids from six companies for a contract for the fit-out of the new radio transmission stations in Barka, Bidiyah and Bahla.

The winning company will carry out the technical fit-out of the new medium wave radio transmission stations.

The local Mustafa Sultan Security & Communication Systems submitted the lowest bid with a price of OR4.9m. This was 9.3 per cent lower than the OR5.4m bid submitted by the second lowest bidder, the local Bahwan Projects and Telecommunications Company.

The local Khimji Ramdas submitted the third lowest bid with a price of OR5.9m. The other bidders include the local OHI Telecommunications and the local Apex International Technologies & Projects.