An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed including a method for adaptive reception, the method. The method includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), an indicator from a first component carrier, the indicator indicating whether a second component carrier is in the On state. Receiving, by the UE, from the second component carrier a subframe wherein a reference signal is provided at a first symbol position of the subframe in a majority of subcarriers of the subframe. The second component carrier and the UE are then synchronized based on the reference signals. The UE then initiates a data link with the second component carrier.