A group-based PDCCH capability in LTE. Information common to a group of UEs, such as those common to a virtual carrier, may be signalled in a group search space within the PDCCH. This common information may include the location of a further control region embedded in the virtual carrier which contains UE-specific information for access the resources of the virtual carrier. Additional methods assign UEs a group identity by implicit signalling, and determine the aggregation level of the group-based PDCCH search space.