An eNodeB (eNB), user equipment (UE) and method for operating in enhanced coverage (EC) modes are generally described. The UE may receive one or more physical broadcast channel (PBCH) signals, dependent on whether the UE is in a normal coverage mode or in one of the EC modes. The PBCH signal may be combined to form a combined PBCH signal, when the UE is in an EC mode, and decoded to determine one of a plurality of sets of resource regions associated different EC modes for communication with the eNB. The signal may be scrambled using a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) dependent on at least one of a signal type of the control signal and the EC mode. Paging and the system information block (SIB) signals in a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) may be decoded without decoding a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signal associated with the PDSCH.