Al Yah Satellite Communications Co. (YahSat) selected a consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space to build a communications satellite to serve the Middle East and surrounding regions, YahSat announced May 21.

YahSat is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Co., the strategic investment and development vehicle of Abu Dhabi’s government.

The satellite will provide government and commercial communication services such as broadcasting, Internet trunking, corporate data networks and backhauling to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia.

The contract, which will be finalized “as soon as possible,” is expected to be valued at $1.4 billion.