Emergency satellite network

A portable terminal device, comprising:

• a transceiver providing for duplex communication with a satellite communication network that provides a broadband outbound channel to the portable terminal device;
• a computer operative in presenting a user interface allowing for a user at the terminal device to communicate via the satellite communication network;
• local storage;
• at least one VoIP port to provide VoIP communication via the satellite communication network;
• a local broadband wireless network access port that provides for authorized devices within range of the wireless network access port to communicate via the satellite communication network and with each other;
• a security module operative in authenticating devices for communication via the wireless network access port;
• and
• a locally stored configuration profile remotely accessible and reconfigurable by a network controller associated with the satellite communication network.

A satellite communication network, comprising:

• a satellite;
• a network management system operative in controlling and managing a plurality of terminals;
• an earth station providing a first communication link via the satellite for bidirectional communication between the earth station and the plurality of terminals assigned to the first earth station by said network management system;
• and
• a second communication link under control of said network management system, wherein one or more of the terminals are capable of being reassigned to said second communication link by the network management system.

A method for providing a satellite communications network, the method comprising:

• providing dedicated bandwidth on one or more satellites for the satellite communications network;
• providing a subscriber to said satellite communications network with access to burstable bandwidth;
• and
• charging the subscriber according to a usage based fee structure for burstable bandwidth.

A method for providing a satellite communications service, the method comprising:

• providing dedicated bandwidth on one or more satellites for the satellite communications network;
• allocating bandwidth to each of a plurality of subscribers up to a maximum total bandwidth less than the dedicated bandwidth;
• and
• pricing usage of bandwidth by the subscribers as a disincentive for usage of the satellite communications service.

A satellite communication network, comprising:

• a satellite;
• a first earth station having a first network management system and providing a first communication link via the satellite for bidirectional communication between the first earth station and a plurality of first terminals under management by said first network management system;
• a second earth station having a second network management system and providing a second communication link via the satellite for bidirectional communication between the second earth station and a plurality of second terminals under management by said second network management system, said second earth station also providing a third communication link via the satellite for bidirectional communication between the second earth station and remote sites assigned to the third communication link;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first terminals is capable of being reassigned to any one of said second communication link and said third communication link.