A system for performing channel estimation based on a received signal including both known and unknown transmitted symbols, includes detector circuitry for detecting the unknown symbols by assigning estimated values to the unknown symbols, and channel estimator circuitry for performing channel estimation by exploiting both the known symbols and the estimated values assigned to the unknown symbols. The system has associated multiple receiving antennas. The system is preferably included in a CDMA receiver and the received signal includes known pilot bits and additional symbols, such as, transmit power-control commands, feedback information for transmitting antenna diversity, and a transport-format combination indicator that include the unknown symbols.