For paging user devices that are link budget limited (LBL), a base station transmits a special ID that is used by said devices to identify a paging frame and/or a paging occasion. When transmitting a paging message for an LBL device, the base station may use: (a) larger aggregation and larger CFI (than conventionally allowed) and (b) a larger number of resource blocks (than conventionally allowed) for paging payload. If paging messages for LBL devices saturate the paging frame capacity, the base station may allocate a plurality of special IDs. If paging messages for LBL devices and/or other data transfers saturate network capacity, at least a subset of the LBL devices may be directed to enter a connected-state discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, wherein those devices will remain in connected mode and periodically check for resource allocations. Paging payload information may be repeatedly transmitted in successive subframes, to support soft combining.