Aspects of the present disclosure provide a mechanism for improving reliability in a wireless communication network supporting a multi-cell transmission environment including a primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells). In some examples, a user equipment (UE) in a connected mode with a PCell for multi-cell communication with the PCell and one or more SCells may utilize link quality measurements on both the PCell and one or more SCells to manage the connection with the PCell. In other examples, one or more SCells may function as a PCell to transmit common control signaling to the UE and/or receive uplink control information from the UE. In other examples, a UE in an idle mode may evaluate the reference signals transmitted from the PCell and one or more potential SCells before deciding whether to connect to the PCell for multi-cell communication.