A two-stage downlink control channel is provided for a wireless communication system. In one example, an apparatus comprises a processor, and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operation can comprise: transmitting a first portion of a downlink control channel to a mobile device according to a first specification of parameters; and transmitting a second portion of the downlink control channel to the mobile device according to a second specification of the parameters, wherein the second specification of the parameters is adaptively determined based on a condition of an environment in which the first portion of the downlink control channel is transmitted and wherein the second portion is dictated by the first specification of parameters.