A system and methods that are performed by a macro cell and a user equipment (UE) to implement a carrier aggregation mode in a network. The system includes a macrocell including a first coverage area and a plurality of small cells, each of the small cells including a second coverage area wherein the plurality of second coverage areas substantially cover the first coverage area. The macro cell operates a first component carrier as a primary component carrier in a carrier aggregation enabled network and one of the small cells operates a second component carrier as a secondary component carrier in the carrier aggregation enabled network.