A method for managing a wireless communications system, said method comprising: requesting wireless communication links between a plurality of user terminals and an airborne communications relay terminal; radiating a plurality of RF spot beams from the relay terminal to the Earth's surface, such that each RF spot beam has a transmission direction point towards the ground and covers a service area defining a ground cell and such that the plurality of RF spot beams divides a coverage area into a plurality of ground cells wherein different ones of RF spot beams operate at different frequencies, designating one of said plurality of user terminals as a primary user terminal to make a direct communication with said airborne communications relay terminal; designating other ones of said plurality of user terminals as secondary user terminals to make direct communication with said primary user terminal; connecting said primary user terminal directly to said airborne communications relay terminal; and connecting said secondary user terminals indirectly to said airborne communications relay terminal through said primary user terminal, by the primary user terminal establishing a wireless communications link to directly communicate data with the relay terminal and by the secondary user terminals establishing a wireless communications link to communicate directly with the primary user terminal. establishing, with said primary user terminal and within the ground cell, a virtual cell defining a subnetwork for communications between said primary user terminal and said secondary user terminals, wherein the virtual cell encompasses user terminals establishing and maintaining a wireless communication link between one another. requesting wireless communication links between a plurality of user terminals and an airborne communications relay terminal; radiating a plurality of RF spot beams from the relay terminal to the Earth's surface, such that each RF spot beam has a transmission direction point towards the ground and covers a service area defining a ground cell and such that the plurality of RF spot beams divides a coverage area into a plurality of ground cells wherein different ones of RF spot beams operate at different frequencies, designating one of said plurality of user terminals as a primary user terminal to make a direct communication with said airborne communications relay terminal; designating other ones of said plurality of user terminals as secondary user terminals to make direct communication with said primary user terminal; connecting said primary user terminal directly to said airborne communications relay terminal; and connecting said secondary user terminals indirectly to said airborne communications relay terminal through said primary user terminal, by the primary user terminal establishing a wireless communications link to directly communicate data with the relay terminal and by the secondary user terminals establishing a wireless communications link to communicate directly with the primary user terminal. establishing, with said primary user terminal and within the ground cell, a virtual cell defining a subnetwork for communications between said primary user terminal and said secondary user terminals, wherein the virtual cell encompasses user terminals establishing and maintaining a wireless communication link between one another.