Disclosed are methods for facilitating enhanced modulation (such as 256-QAM) in wireless networks. The methods generally involve enhancements to physical-layer signaling (such as enhanced MCS tables), enhancements to transport-block tables (to support enhanced MCS values), CSI-feedback enhancements (to ensure that the UE signals the appropriate MCS for enhanced modulation), enhancements to higher-layer signaling, allowing UEs to signal their ability to use the enhanced modulation, and UE category enhancements.