Methods, systems and devices for wireless communications are described for differentiation between standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) cells in a wireless communications system. A user equipment (UE) may receive an indication of a subcarrier offset for a system information block (SIB). The SIB may be for a cell of a wireless communications network. The cell may be in accordance with a radio access technology. The UE may determine, based on the subcarrier offset for the SIB, whether the cell is configured as an SA cell or as an NSA cell for the radio access technology. The UE may communicate via the wireless communications network based on whether the cell is configured as an SA cell or as an NSA cell.