A method for supporting broadcast transmissions and unicast communications in a wireless communication system is described. The method comprises supporting unicast communication in a first mode of operation wherein at least one unicast data transmission unit is encoded and communicated within a time-continuous sub-frame of a first length and a first number of timeslots. The method further comprises supporting broadcast transmission in a second mode of operation, wherein at least one broadcast data transmission unit is encoded communicated over a time period that comprises a discontinuous plurality of the time-continuous sub-frames of the first length.