Downlink synchronization channel for the narrow-band cellular iot

A method of wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving, from a base station, a downlink frame having a first channel time-divisionally multiplexed with at least one other downlink channel;
• differentially demodulating a plurality of symbols of the first channel;
• and
• determining whether the first channel is a synchronization channel having at least two repetitions of a sequence based on the differential demodulation of the plurality of symbols.

An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• generate a synchronization signal for transmission in a synchronization channel, the synchronization channel spanning an entire bandwidth available for downlink transmission, the synchronization signal having at least two repetitions of a sequence;
• multiplex the synchronization channel with at least one other downlink channel in at least one downlink frame;
• and
• transmit the at least one downlink frame having the synchronization channel multiplexed with the at least one other downlink channel.

An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• receive, from a base station, a downlink frame having a first channel time-divisionally multiplexed with at least one other downlink channel;
• differentially demodulate a plurality of symbols of the first channel;
• and
• determine whether the first channel is a synchronization channel having at least two repetitions of a sequence based on the differential demodulation of the plurality of symbols.