This document describes techniques for flexible frequency band pairing for satellite communications. In aspects, a non-terrestrial communication system uses multiple frequency bands for a wireless link between a user equipment, UE, and a satellite of the non-terrestrial communication system. The non-terrestrial communication system determines to utilize two different frequency bands the wireless link between the satellite and the UE, the two different frequency bands being defined by a governing entity. In response, the non-terrestrial based communication system selects a first defined frequency band for downlink communications from the satellite to the UE and a second defined frequency band for uplink communications from the UE to the satellite. The non-terrestrial communication system then directs the satellite and the UE to communicate via the wireless link by using the first defined frequency band for the downlink communications and the second defined frequency band for the uplink communications.