A system and method for optimizing satellite network utilization is disclosed. The method includes delivering a message to a communication device in the satellite network where a confirmation is received from a satellite network gateway that a message is intended for the communication device, scheduling a notification for the communication device at a scheduled time, and at the scheduled time, instructing the satellite network gateway to send the notification to the communication device. The notification causes the communication device to request the message from the network gateway upon receipt of the notification by the communication device. Scheduling may be coordinated within an alert window time period of the communication device when it is listening for notifications. The start time of the alert window time period may be provided by an application gateway, that along with the communication device, receive network time data to remain synchronized.