Telecommunications apparatus and methods

A terminal device for use in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the terminal device is configured to selectively switch between an active operating mode and one of a first reduced-power operating mode and a second reduced-power operating mode, the terminal device comprising:

• a controller unit and a transceiver unit configured to operate together to:
• communicate with a network entity to exchange a block of data between the terminal device and the network entity while the terminal device is in the active operating mode, the block of data including data identifying a class of the terminal device;
• determine when communications associated with the exchange of the block of data are complete;
• and
• in response to determining communications associated with the exchange of the block of data are complete, to switch from the active operating mode to one of the first reduced-power operating mode and the second reduced-power operating mode,
• wherein the switching includes configuring the terminal device to communicate with the network entity in the first reduced-power operating mode when the terminal device is a first class of terminal device and to communicate in the second reduced-power operating mode when the terminal device is a second class of terminal device different from the first class of terminal device, and
• wherein communicating in the second reduced-power operating mode includes operating in a reduced-power operating mode for a longer period of time than when communicating in the first reduced-power operating mode.

Circuitry for a terminal device for use in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the terminal device is configured to selectively switch between an active operating mode and one of a first reduced-power operating mode and a second reduced-power operating mode, the circuitry comprising:

• a controller element and a transceiver element configured to operate together to:
• communicate with a network entity to exchange a block of data between the terminal device and the network entity while the terminal device is in the active operating mode, the block of data including data identifying a class of the terminal device;
• determine when communications associated with the exchange of the block of data are complete;
• and
• in response to determining communications associated with the exchange of the block of data are complete, to switch from the active operating mode one of the first reduced-power operating mode and the second reduced-power operating mode,
• wherein the switching includes configuring the terminal device to communicate with the network entity in the first reduced-power operating mode when the terminal device is a first class of terminal device and to communicate in the second reduced-power operating mode when the terminal device is a second class of terminal device different from the first class of terminal device, and
• wherein communicating in the second reduced-power operating mode includes operating in a reduced-power operating mode for a longer period of time than when communicating in the first reduced-power operating mode.