Various aspects described herein relate to techniques for signaling and using one or more virtual cell identifications (V-cell IDs) for single frequency network (SFN)-type of transmissions in wireless communications systems. A method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. In an aspect, the method may include performing, by a user equipment (UE), a cell search to obtain a cell ID, and decoding, by the UE, a message based on the cell ID, wherein the message includes a master information block (MIB). The method may further include identifying, by the UE, a virtual cell ID used for SFN-type transmissions based on information decoded from the message. The techniques described herein may apply to different communications technologies, including 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) communications technology.