Embodiments of an access point and method for high-efficiency WLAN (HEW) communication are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the access point may be configured to operate as a master station and may configure an HEW frame to include a legacy signal field (L-SIG), an HEW signal field (HEW SIG-A) following the L-SIG, and one or more HEW fields following the HEW SIG-A. The L-SIG may be configured for transmission using a legacy number of data subcarriers, a legacy number of pilot subcarriers and a number of additional reference subcarriers modulated with a known reference sequence. At least one symbol of the HEW SIG-A and the one or more HEW fields following the HEW SIG-A of the HEW frame may be configured for transmission using additional data subcarriers. The additional data subcarriers may correspond to the additional reference subcarriers of the L-SIG.