Cellular communication system and method for broadcast communication

A management function for a cellular communication system arranged to be operably coupled to a plurality of wireless serving communication units supporting communication in an uni-cast mode of operation to a plurality of wireless subscriber communication units on a frequency channel comprising a plurality of downlink transmission resources,

• wherein the management function comprises:
• a broadcast mode function that applies a common cell identifier associated with broadcast transmissions to the plurality of serving communication units;
• and
• means for signalling to the plurality of wireless subscriber communication units that part or all of the downlink transmission resource is to be configured or re-configured for broadcast mode of operation using the common cell identifier.

A method of configuring a cellular communication system comprising a management function having a broadcast mode function;

• the method comprising:
• supporting communication by at least one of a plurality of serving communication units to at least one of a plurality of wireless subscriber communication units on a frequency channel comprising a plurality of downlink transmission resources in an uni-cast mode of operation;
• applying a common cell identifier associated with broadcast transmissions to at least one of the plurality of serving communication units;
• and
• signalling to at least one of the plurality of wireless subscriber communication units that part or all of the downlink transmission resource is to be configured or re-configured for broadcast mode of operation.