Delay estimation apparatus and method, comprising: a correlation step which a correlation function between a received signal and a supplied template waveform is generated, AD conversion step at which said correlation output generated at said correlation step is uniformly sampled into discrete samples; and arithmetic operation step at which a time delay estimate of the received signal based on said discrete samples generated at said AD conversion step is computed, wherein a selection criterion depending on the digital sampling frequency used at said AD conversion means is checked, if said selection criterion is satisfied, computes the time delay estimate based on the direct pick method, and if said selection criterion does not hold, computes the time delay estimate based on the simplified maximum likelihood (ML) method.