Abstract: A distributed digital communications network and method for interactive communications, e.g., for cellular, wireless Internet access, digital television, and/or like multimedia services, is provided, that includes one or more global communications satellites positioned and adapted for receiving and relaying packet data communications encapsulating the interactive communications. One or more base station(s) are located in each of a plurality of selected remote geographic regions, and have mobile wireless links to a plurality of subscribers of communications services in the region. A plurality of satellite communications terminals is also provided for communicating with the satellite from the region. Each terminal is located in the selected remote geographic region and associated with one or more of the base stations. In addition, a plurality of user terminals are utilized, each located in the selected remote geographic region and associated with the base station(s) in the region.