Provided are a communication method and system that integrate 5G communication systems with IoT technologies to support higher data rates after 4G systems. The present disclosure is based on 5G communication technologies and IoT related technologies, and may be applied to intelligent services such as smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart or connected cars, health care, digital education, retail, and security and safety.The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in an electronic device supporting machine type communication. There is provided a method of signal processing for an electronic device in a mobile communication system. The method may include: obtaining repetition level information for signal reception; determining a decoding start point and decoding period; and making, if the decoding start point arrives, an attempt to decode the repeatedly received signal at every decoding period on the basis of the repetition level information.