FIELD: satellite communications.
SUBSTANCE: communication satellite can operate in accordance with the first operating mode for providing communication services for user terminals in a first coverage area (for example, providing user terminals with direct channel of communication services using a first communication channel with a first polarization) and receive suitably polarized forward uplink signals from access node terminals in the second coverage area, wherein the communications satellite may relay corresponding forward downlink signals to user terminals in the first coverage area. In some cases, the first coverage area may geographically overlap the second coverage area. The communications satellite may determine a second operating mode (e.g. optimize communications services based on dynamic conditions) and switch to the second operating mode to provide communications services to user terminals.
EFFECT: providing flexible and dynamic distribution of communication resources between different service coverage areas, for example, to move higher capacity services to different coverage areas based on dynamically changing conditions.
26 cl, 35 dwg
