A network access node identifies a component carrier within an unlicensed radio spectrum, determines whether or not to configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier, and based on the determining configures the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier companion to a primary component carrier within a licensed radio spectrum, In various non-limiting embodiments the network node senses the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum, and as more data is needed to make the determination employs a mobile device to also sense and further to measure the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum. Specific procedures are detailed for both the network node and the mobile device.