Abstract: Described herein are technologies that coordinate operation of access nodes in a communications system to enable the efficient use of TDD systems (e.g., cellular equipment) in an FDD network (e.g., a satellite network). Two access nodes can be configured with complementary schedules so that the forward link slots of a first access node correspond to the return link slots of a second access node and vice versa. In this arrangement, all time slots of a satellite network are utilized except for a switching time gap. Advantageously, although the cellular equipment implements TDD schemes, coordinated operation of the access nodes allows the satellite network to operate in full duplex and the duration of a switching time gap in the schedules can be made relatively small. That is, the switching time gap is not influenced by the propagation delay of the signal through the satellite network.

Abstract: An embodiment of a satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is disclosed. The satellite system includes a satellite, a number of service spot beams from the satellite and a number of forward channels. Each of the number of forward channels is transported on a carrier in one of the plurality of service spot beams. The number of forward sub-channels pass on one of the number of forward channels. The size of the forward sub-channels varies over time.