Hitless satellite-to-satellite handovers using a phased array antenna

A method for a hitless handover in a hitless handover of communications in a Radio Frequency (RF) network is disclosed. The method including: providing a terminal comprising a first demodulator, a second demodulator and a phased array antenna; receiving communications via a first outroute signal in a first coverage area with the phased array antenna over a first outroute and processed by the first demodulator; transmitting a first inroute signal in the first coverage area with the phased array antenna over a first inroute; determining that the first outroute is setting when the terminal is imminently leaving the first coverage area and that a second outroute is rising when the terminal is entering a second coverage area; acquiring a second outroute signal in a second coverage area with the phased array antenna over the second outroute and processed by the second demodulator; sending a request to receive the communications over the second outroute, while the terminal is disposed in an overlap of the first coverage area and the second coverage area; establishing communications via the second outroute; and handing over communications from the first outroute to the second outroute while the terminal is disposed in the overlap, where the communications are received by the terminal without interruption, without a pause and without replication over the first outroute and the second outroute.