A method of operating a first network element in a wireless communications network to perform WIFI and long term evolution (LTE) communications with a second network element on an unlicensed portion of a radio spectrum, the unlicensed portion being divided into first and second frequency regions, includes performing, at the first network element, WIFI protocol communications over the unlicensed portion, including at least one of transmission to, and reception from, a second network element, of WIFI protocol data using one or more first frequencies of the first frequency region, and performing, at the first network element, LTE protocol communications over the unlicensed portion including at least one of transmission to, and reception from, the second network element, of LTE protocol data using one or more second frequencies of the second frequency region, the WIFI protocol communications and LTE protocol communications being performed by the first network element simultaneously.