Disclosed is a method for reducing number of bits in a Media Access Protocol (MAP) message. The MAP message comprises a plurality of information elements grouped into one of a first set of information elements and a second set of information elements. The first set of information elements are arranged in a pre-defined order and each of the second set of information elements is inserted into one of a prefix position to the pre-defined order, a suffix position to the pre-defined order and an intermediate position in-between two information elements in the pre-defined order. Each information element of the second set of information elements is then coded based on position of the information element relative to the position of the first set of information elements in the pre-defined order, thereby reducing the number of bits in the MAP message.