Dc subcarrier handling in narrowband devices

A method of wireless communication at a base station, comprising:

• identifying a narrow bandwidth region allocated for operation within a wide bandwidth carrier;
• determining that the narrow bandwidth region is centered about a different frequency than a center subcarrier of the wide bandwidth carrier;
• and
• communicating with a user equipment (UE) in the narrow bandwidth region by rate matching subcarriers of the narrow bandwidth region around tones of a center frequency of the narrow bandwidth region.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory;
• wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
• identify a narrow bandwidth region allocated for operation within a wide bandwidth carrier;
• determine that the narrow bandwidth region is centered about a different frequency than a center subcarrier of the wide bandwidth carrier;
• and
• select an operating mode associated with a center frequency of the narrow bandwidth region based at least in part on the determining.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory;
• wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
• identify a narrow bandwidth region allocated for operation within a wide bandwidth carrier;
• determine that the narrow bandwidth region is centered about a different frequency than a center subcarrier of the wide bandwidth carrier;
• and
• communicate with a user equipment (UE) in the narrow bandwidth region by rate matching subcarriers of the narrow bandwidth region around tones of a center frequency of the narrow bandwidth region.