Embodiments describe a method of measuring noise and interference within transceivers of an OFDM wireless transmission system, or similar communication system, including a number of receivers communicating with one or more base stations in cell or sector arrangements. The transmitter schedules a transmission burst for a non-existent user (receiver) using wireless transmission traffic. In an OFDM system, this corresponds to a certain set of subcarriers in the time/frequency arrangement. Thus, in the receive frame structure, the data and pilot subcarriers are guaranteed to be only noise and interference from adjacent sectors. The receiver can accurately measure the noise and interference without needing to cancel out the transmitted signal. Therefore, the system is assured that there is no desired signal as part of this measurement. The noise and interference measurement process can be appropriately scheduled so that it does not impact the overall throughput of the system. This mechanism creates a deterministic place (in time and/or frequency) within the transmission, where no desired signal is required.