A system and method for establishing virtual beams for initial timing synchronization in a satellite communication network. The system and method perform operations of estimating, by a controller, a maximum satellite position error associated with an estimated position of a satellite of the satellite communication network within a satellite location space, and estimating, by a controller, a maximum remote unit position error associated with estimated position of a remote unit that is configured to communicate with the satellite of the satellite communication network. The system and method thus establish, by a controller, a size of the virtual beam based on the maximum satellite position error and the maximum remote unit position error.