A method for conducting communications via a satellite comprising: using an antenna subsystem of the satellite to provide a plurality of fixed location spot beams in a hub-spoke spot beam satellite communication system, the spot beams being assigned to beam groups according to an objective, wherein a first beam group comprises: (a) one of the spot beams illuminating a first gateway terminal, and (b) one of the spot beams illuminating a first user terminal, wherein a second beam group comprises: (a) one of the spot beams illuminating a second gateway terminal, and (b) one of the spot beams illuminating a second user terminal, wherein the satellite comprises a first pathway associated with the first beam group and a second pathway associated with the second beam group; sequentially switching at least one transmit-side switch coupled to an output of the first pathway to connect the output of the first pathway with different spot beams within the first beam group to establish traffic between the first gateway terminal and at least the first user terminal, according to a first transmit beam switching pattern; sequentially switching at least one transmit-side switch coupled to an output of the second pathway to connect the output of the second pathway with different spot beams within the second beam group to establish traffic between the second gateway terminal and at least the second user terminal, according to a second transmit beam switching pattern; and coordinating the first transmit beam switching pattern and the second transmit beam switching pattern to avoid substantial interference between traffic transmitted to a spot beam of the first beam group on a same frequency as traffic transmitted to a spot beam of the second beam group. using an antenna subsystem of the satellite to provide a plurality of fixed location spot beams in a hub-spoke spot beam satellite communication system, the spot beams being assigned to beam groups according to an objective, wherein a first beam group comprises: (a) one of the spot beams illuminating a first gateway terminal, and (b) one of the spot beams illuminating a first user terminal, wherein a second beam group comprises: (a) one of the spot beams illuminating a second gateway terminal, and (b) one of the spot beams illuminating a second user terminal, wherein the satellite comprises a first pathway associated with the first beam group and a second pathway associated with the second beam group; sequentially switching at least one transmit-side switch coupled to an output of the first pathway to connect the output of the first pathway with different spot beams within the first beam group to establish traffic between the first gateway terminal and at least the first user terminal, according to a first transmit beam switching pattern; sequentially switching at least one transmit-side switch coupled to an output of the second pathway to connect the output of the second pathway with different spot beams within the second beam group to establish traffic between the second gateway terminal and at least the second user terminal, according to a second transmit beam switching pattern; and coordinating the first transmit beam switching pattern and the second transmit beam switching pattern to avoid substantial interference between traffic transmitted to a spot beam of the first beam group on a same frequency as traffic transmitted to a spot beam of the second beam group.