Patent ID: 8792821

Claim:
A method for providing satellite communications coverage for a geographical area comprising: operating a satellite to generate at least one first spot beam and at least one second spot beam; operating a plurality of gateways including a first gateway and a second gateway; wherein the first gateway is configured to utilize the at least one first spot beam, the at least one first spot beam associated with at least one first coverage area within the geographic area to provide relayed satellite communications to a plurality of first subscriber terminals located in the at least one first coverage area; wherein the second gateway is configured to utilize the at least one second spot beam, the at least one second spot beam associated with at least one second coverage area within the geographic area to provide relayed satellite communications to a plurality of second subscriber terminals located in the at least one second coverage area; as part of a phased deployment, the at least one second coverage area is expanded to include at least one third coverage area within the geographic area, and the second gateway is configured to provide relayed satellite communications to the plurality of second subscriber terminals located in the at least one second coverage area and to a plurality of third subscriber terminals located in the at least one third coverage area; wherein the at least one first coverage area, the at least one second coverage area, and the at least one third coverage area are different coverage areas within the geographic area; and wherein the plurality of first subscriber terminals, the plurality of second subscriber terminals, and the plurality of third subscriber terminals are different subscriber terminals.