Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling transition of an operation state of a cell in a wireless communication system. The cell includes a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a terminal and another cell. The cell also includes a controller configured to transition an operation state of the cell from an active state to a dormant state, transmit a discovery signal, determine whether a cell activation signal is received from a node that controls the cell, and transition the operation state of the cell from the dormant state to the active state when the cell activation signal is received.