Method and apparatus for receiving reference signals in support of flexible radio communication

A method in a communication network including a base station, the method comprising:

• including by a base station of the communication network synchronization signals on a first frequency of one or more frequencies designated for use within a predetermined spectrum space, from which a user equipment can detect and determine a first identity value from the detected synchronization signals;
• sending via the base station of the communication network a first reference signal associated with the first identity value for receipt by the user equipment;
• sending via the base station of the communication network a broadcast channel, which can be decoded by the user equipment based on the received first reference signal, and from which a second identity value can be identified by the user equipment;
• and
• further sending via the base station of the communication network a second reference signal, based upon the first identity value and the second identity value, wherein a cell identification value is encoded in the first identity value determined from the synchronization signals, and the second identity value is identified from the broadcast channel.