In one implementation, congestion in a satellite communications network is managed based on current resource usage information received for a primary satellite servicing a terminal that is requesting to initiate a communications session. The current resource usage information is received within a communications session setup procedure that identifies a type of the communications session being requested by the terminal. Resources for serving the communications session are determined based on the type of the communications session being requested by the terminal. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether sufficient resources are available at the primary satellite for servicing the communications session. In response to determining that sufficient resources are not available at the primary satellite for servicing the communications session, a congestion mitigation strategy is determined for servicing the communications session and sent to the primary satellite for implementation.