Power consumption by a communication satellite may be reduced by operating in a transmission time interval (TTI) gating mode, in which an on period is provided for the satellite to transmit a reference signal (RS), control signals, and a portion of data within an on period through a forward link to a user terminal (UT), followed by an off period in which forward link transmission ceases. During the off period of the TTI, the satellite may turn off its forward link power amplifier and cease transmission of data to the UT. A gateway may send a signal enabling the TTI gating mode, as well as information specifying the TTI gating configuration, such as the length of the on or off period of the TTI, to the satellite.
