A wireless communication device is configured to perform demodulation of device-to-device (D2D) communication signals or LTE uplink signals in a User Equipment. In a transmitter, demodulation reference signal (DMRS) generation circuitry is provided for selective insertion of DMRS signals in resource elements of resource blocks of the signal for transmission using a pattern of resource elements spanning at least one of the resource blocks such that a minimum temporal spacing between consecutive symbols of the demodulation reference signal pattern is less than one slot. In a receiver the DMRS signals are used to perform channel estimation. A user equipment having the DMRS generation circuitry is provided. A computer program product is also provided. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.