A transmitter for a dual-frequency satellite-to-earth downlink. The transmitter comprises a plurality of modulators, a first and a second plurality of amplifiers. In one embodiment, each of the modulators is configured to modulate respective input data onto a respective one of a first plurality of signals in a first frequency band and to modulate the respective one of the first plurality of signals onto a respective one of a second plurality of signals in a second frequency band. Each of the first plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify one of the first plurality of signals to a first predetermined signal strength. Each of the second plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify one of the second plurality of signals to a second predetermined signal strength. A number of the plurality of modulators is smaller than a sum of a number of the first and second pluralities of amplifiers.