Special cell activation using layer 1 or layer 2 signaling

An apparatus for wireless communication at a network node, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors, coupled to the memory, configured to:
• transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a configuration of a set of cells that support at least one of layer 1 (L1) signaling mobility or layer 2 (L2) signaling mobility, wherein each cell, of the set of cells, is associated with a special cell (SpCell) configuration;
• and
• transmit, to the UE via one of L1 signaling or L2 signaling, an indication of a cell, of the set of cells, to serve as an SpCell based at least in part on a corresponding SpCell configuration.

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

• receiving a configuration of a set of cells that support at least one of layer 1 (L1) signaling mobility or layer 2 (L2) signaling mobility, wherein each cell, of the set of cells, is associated with a special cell (SpCell) configuration;
• receiving, via one of L1 signaling or L2 signaling, an indication of a cell, of the set of cells, to serve as an SpCell;
• and
• activating the cell as the SpCell based at least in part on the one of the L1 signaling or the L2 signaling and a corresponding SpCell configuration associated with the cell.