Discovery and synchronization channels are discussed for user-tracking zones in a cellular network. User-tracking zones reduce the mobility tracking burden on the UE and shift the tracking responsibility to the network. This shift allows for UE and network power savings from reduced searching at the UE as well as through efficient paging area tracking and less broadcast signaling. The various aspects provide channel design for initial synchronization and discovery of the user-tracking zones. A single frequency network (SFN) synchronization channel is provided with at least a reference signal for time synchronization and payload information that may include a zone identifier (ID), formatting for a system information transmission request, and resource allocation for the request. The zone ID may be included in the payload or embedded into the reference signal. Facility is also provided for handling zone nodes of different power classes that allows for maintaining the SFN operations.