A beamforming apparatus comprising: x beamforming processors; and N frequency multiplexers; and wherein each beamforming processor is configured to receive M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x), wherein each beam signal (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) is configured to carry data for transmission via a respective spotbeam of a multi-spotbeam beam pattern of an N element multi-element array antenna, wherein the multi-spotbeam beam pattern is configured to employ M such spotbeams in a beam pattern with a frequency reuse of x beam-types (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4) and wherein the M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) that each beamforming processor is configured to receive is each configured for transmission via a same respective beam-type (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4) of at least four beam-types (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4); wherein each beamforming processor is configured to process the beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) separately for the respective beam type (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4); wherein each frequency multiplexer is configured to generate an element signal (e 1, e 2,...,e N) for transmission by a respective element of the multi-element array antenna; wherein each beamforming processor is further configured to generate N component element signals (e x (f y)) by applying a respective array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a N,M) to the respective M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) received by it, wherein the array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a n,M) is configured such that each of the N component element signals (e x (f y)) generated by the beamforming processor forms a component of a respective one of the element signals (e 1, e 2,...,e N) generated by a respective one of the frequency multiplexers, and to provide each of the N component element signals (e x (f y)) to the respective one of the frequency multiplexers; wherein the generation of the element signal (e 1, ez,...,e N) by each frequency multiplexer is based on the respective component element signals (e x (f y)) provided to it by the x beamforming processors; wherein x, N and M are positive numbers; and wherein each array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a n,M) applied by a respective beamforming processor is also configured such that the transmission of all of the element signals (e 1, e 2,...,e N) by the respective elements of the multi-element array antenna will generate the spotbeam pattern. x beamforming processors; and N frequency multiplexers; and wherein each beamforming processor is configured to receive M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x), wherein each beam signal (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) is configured to carry data for transmission via a respective spotbeam of a multi-spotbeam beam pattern of an N element multi-element array antenna, wherein the multi-spotbeam beam pattern is configured to employ M such spotbeams in a beam pattern with a frequency reuse of x beam-types (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4) and wherein the M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) that each beamforming processor is configured to receive is each configured for transmission via a same respective beam-type (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4) of at least four beam-types (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4); wherein each beamforming processor is configured to process the beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) separately for the respective beam type (f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4); wherein each frequency multiplexer is configured to generate an element signal (e 1, e 2,...,e N) for transmission by a respective element of the multi-element array antenna; wherein each beamforming processor is further configured to generate N component element signals (e x (f y)) by applying a respective array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a N,M) to the respective M / x beam signals (s 1, s 2, s 3,..., s M/x) received by it, wherein the array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a n,M) is configured such that each of the N component element signals (e x (f y)) generated by the beamforming processor forms a component of a respective one of the element signals (e 1, e 2,...,e N) generated by a respective one of the frequency multiplexers, and to provide each of the N component element signals (e x (f y)) to the respective one of the frequency multiplexers; wherein the generation of the element signal (e 1, ez,...,e N) by each frequency multiplexer is based on the respective component element signals (e x (f y)) provided to it by the x beamforming processors; wherein x, N and M are positive numbers; and wherein each array of weight factors (a 1,1,..., a n,M) applied by a respective beamforming processor is also configured such that the transmission of all of the element signals (e 1, e 2,...,e N) by the respective elements of the multi-element array antenna will generate the spotbeam pattern.