Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a wireless communication device may obtain, at an access stratum (AS) layer, an indication of an inter-satellite link (ISL) activation that is to take place at an activation time. The wireless communication device may receive communications. The wireless communication device may buffer the communications in a buffer at the AS layer. The wireless communication device may release the communications from the buffer to an upper protocol layer at a rate of release that is to change between a transition start time and the activation time. Numerous other aspects are described.