Telecommunications apparatus and methods

A base station for use in a wireless telecommunications system, the base station comprising:

• a transceiver to perform wireless communication with a terminal device;
• and
• a controller to control the transceiver to transmit reference data referencing a set of system information defining communication parameters of that base station;
• the controller being configured to control the transceiver to conduct wireless communication in accordance with the referenced system information.

A method of operation of a terminal device for use in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising:

• obtaining system information defining communication parameters from system information data transmitted by a base station;
• storing the system information and one or more associated value tags identifying a version of respective portions of the system information;
• and
• detecting whether the system information storage already holds at least some of the system information applicable to the newly communicating base station;
• obtaining any portions of the system information not already held by the terminal device from the base station;
• detecting an instruction to obtain updated system information;
• and
• in response to detection of the instruction, obtaining from the base station an updated version of only those portions of the system information having a value tag indicating a version of those portions different to the corresponding stored value tag.