Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling mobile and base stations (14 and 16) during satellite (12) based telecommunications to perform scheduled handovers between two communications channels (26 and 27). The base station (16) determines when a handover will be necessary. Once determined, the base station (16) generates a handover scheduling command (node #4) which includes a scheduled handover time representing a time in the future at which the handover will occur. The handover scheduling command is transmitted over the first channel to the mobile station (14). Upon receipt of the handover scheduling command, the mobile station (14) performs steps necessary to establish a second communications link over a second channel (27), prior to the scheduled handover time. At the scheduled handover time (node #21), the mobile and base stations (14 and 16) have established the second communications link on the second channel (27).