Pre-assigned Multiple Access (PAMA)

Pre-assigned multiple access (PAMA), also known as fixed-assigned multiple access (FAMA), is a method used in satellite communications to allocate channel resources to users. In a PAMA system, each user is permanently assigned a specific channel or portion of capacity, regardless of whether it is actively being used.

While PAMA offers simplicity and predictable performance, it is generally inefficient in systems with variable or intermittent traffic, as unused capacity cannot be reassigned to other users. For this reason, many satellite communication systems instead employ demand-assigned multiple access (DAMA), in which channels are allocated dynamically based on user demand.