A base station determines a muting configuration for reference signal (RS) transmission as a pattern defined by the combination of a muting sequence and a reference point. Muting occasions for a given wireless communication network cell may be differentiated from another cell by use of a different muting sequence, a different reference point, or both. Wireless communication apparatuses such as User Equipments (UEs) determine when the reference signals are muted in the cell based on the periodic muting sequence and the reference point received in assistance data transmitted by the base station. The network may alternatively utilize a common muting sequence with different reference points, a common reference point with different muting sequences, or different sequences and different reference points across multiple cells.