System and method for providing dual satellite communications coverage

The invention relates generally to satellite communication systems and, more particularly, to systems capable of providing dual satellite coverage. A satellite communication system uses dual satellite coverage techniques to simulate the provision of full duplex communications in the system. Each subscriber () in the system communicates with two satellites () that use complementary time division duplex (TDD) frame structures () for communicating with the subscriber (). In one embodiment, each satellite in the system performs a transition between a first TDD frame structure () and a second TDD frame structure () while travelling through a transition region () of an associated orbit (). Preferably, the transition is performed gradually so that an abrupt reduction in system capacity is avoided. In another embodiment, individual orbital planes in the satellite system are dedicated for use with particular TDD frame structures. A subscriber thus communicates with one satellite in each of two planes during a connection.