A method and apparatus for mitigating inter-cell interference in an OFDMA-based wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of, providing at least a frame in a base station to a plurality of mobile stations; dividing the frame into a plurality of subcarriers; assigning a demarcation line within the frame to divide the plurality of subcarriers into a first zone and a second zone; defining a time reuse parameter for the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone; defining a frequency reuse parameter for the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone; and loading the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone according the time reuse parameter and the frequency parameter.