Abstract: A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The satellite system comprises service spot beams from a satellite. Forward channels may be transported on carriers of the service spot beams. A plurality of forward sub-channels may be passed on the forward channels. A plurality of logical downstreams may correspond one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels. The satellite system may further include a satellite modem with a channel bonding unit that combines a plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group and processes the downstream group to provide information to customer premises equipment.