A method includes operating a user equipment to initiate monitoring of a control channel associated with a particular component carrier for determining if the user equipment is scheduled by the control channel associated with the particular component carrier. In response to determining that the user equipment is not scheduled, autonomously terminating the monitoring of the control channel associated with the particular component carrier. A further method includes establishing a set of rules defining how and when a user equipment autonomously deactivates use of component carriers transmitted by a network access node. The network access node assumes, in response to the network access node not scheduling the user equipment in a control channel of a particular component carrier for some period, that the user equipment has autonomously deactivated monitoring of the control channel of the particular component carrier. Various apparatus and computer programs are also disclosed that operate in accordance with the methods.