A satellite communication system comprising: a beamformer comprising: a plurality of beamformer inputs, each configured to receive a respective signal to be directed to a respective user spot beam; a plurality of beamformer outputs, each configured to output a respective beam element signal; and a pilot output configured to output a timing pilot signal; a satellite access node "SAN" comprising: a plurality of optical modulators each having an electrical input and an optical output, at least one of the electrical inputs coupled to a corresponding output from the beamformer and at least one other of the electrical inputs configured to receive the timing pilot signal; an optical combiner coupled to the optical outputs of the plurality of optical modulators and configured to output a composite optical signal; and an optical lens configured to transmit the composite optical signal; and a satellite comprising: a satellite optical receiver having a steerable lens pointable at the SAN and configured to receive the composite optical signal, the satellite optical receiver having a plurality of radio frequency "RF" outputs; a plurality of power amplifiers "PA", each having an input and an output, the inputs coupled to the RF outputs; and an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element having an input coupled to a corresponding one of the PA outputs. a beamformer comprising: a plurality of beamformer inputs, each configured to receive a respective signal to be directed to a respective user spot beam; a plurality of beamformer outputs, each configured to output a respective beam element signal; and a pilot output configured to output a timing pilot signal; a plurality of beamformer inputs, each configured to receive a respective signal to be directed to a respective user spot beam; a plurality of beamformer outputs, each configured to output a respective beam element signal; and a pilot output configured to output a timing pilot signal; a satellite access node "SAN" comprising: a plurality of optical modulators each having an electrical input and an optical output, at least one of the electrical inputs coupled to a corresponding output from the beamformer and at least one other of the electrical inputs configured to receive the timing pilot signal; an optical combiner coupled to the optical outputs of the plurality of optical modulators and configured to output a composite optical signal; and an optical lens configured to transmit the composite optical signal; and a plurality of optical modulators each having an electrical input and an optical output, at least one of the electrical inputs coupled to a corresponding output from the beamformer and at least one other of the electrical inputs configured to receive the timing pilot signal; an optical combiner coupled to the optical outputs of the plurality of optical modulators and configured to output a composite optical signal; and an optical lens configured to transmit the composite optical signal; and a satellite comprising: a satellite optical receiver having a steerable lens pointable at the SAN and configured to receive the composite optical signal, the satellite optical receiver having a plurality of radio frequency "RF" outputs; a plurality of power amplifiers "PA", each having an input and an output, the inputs coupled to the RF outputs; and an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element having an input coupled to a corresponding one of the PA outputs. a satellite optical receiver having a steerable lens pointable at the SAN and configured to receive the composite optical signal, the satellite optical receiver having a plurality of radio frequency "RF" outputs; a plurality of power amplifiers "PA", each having an input and an output, the inputs coupled to the RF outputs; and an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element having an input coupled to a corresponding one of the PA outputs.