Method and apparatus for supporting large subcarrier spacing for SS/PBCH block

A base station (BS) in a wireless communication system, the BS comprising:

• a processor configured to determine a structure of a synchronization signals and physical broadcast channels (SS/PBCH) block based on an operation mode of the SS/PBCH block, wherein:
• the SS/PBCH block is with a first structure when the operation mode of the SS/PBCH block is a primary cell (PCell);
• the SS/PBCH block is with a second structure when the operation mode of the SS/PBCH block is a secondary cell (SCell);
• and
• the first structure has a larger number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols than the second structure;
• and
• a transceiver operably coupled to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), the SS/PBCH block based on whether the structure of the SS/PBCH block is the first structure or the second structure.

A method for operating a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• determining a structure of a synchronization signals and physical broadcast channels (SS/PBCH) block based on an operation mode of the SS/PBCH block, wherein:
• the SS/PBCH block is with a first structure when the operation mode of the SS/PBCH block is a primary cell (PCell);
• the SS/PBCH block is with a second structure when the operation mode of the SS/PBCH block is a secondary cell (SCell);
• and
• the first structure has a larger number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols than the second structure;
• and
• receiving, from a base station (BS), the SS/PBCH block based on whether the structure of the SS/PBCH block is the first structure or the second structure.