Two demand assignment time division multiple access (TDMA) satellite access schemes that are suitable for providing flexible interconnections of local area networks are compared by means of two simulations; Fifo Ordered Demand Assignment/Information Bit Energy Adaptive (FODA/IBEA) and Combined Fixed Reservation Assignment (CFRA). A unique simulation tool was used, a meshed network of very small aperture terminals (VSATs) under the control of a master station was considered and similar networking conditions were applied to both access schemes. The generated traffic had two components with different level of burstiness; bulk traffic and interactive traffic. The performance evaluated is the delay for each traffic component. We show that CFRA is best when connecting clusters of only a few stations and even individual stations exchanging light traffic. On the other hand, FODA/IBEA is better suited to interconnect networks, or within networks with many hosts, where heavy traffic is more likely. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.