Heathrow Director
There is a system in the UK (and probably elsewhere) called bandboxing where one controller can work several sectors during quiet periods..
I know exactly what you mean but if I can put it in your world. Lets say the North Sea (Sect 10/11 etc) combined with Scottish or Clacton Sectors combined with TC due to staff shortages and you man this with 1 person. I know its not the same amount of traffic but you get the gist.