A method is provided for detecting an access zone configuration of a downlink wireless transmission received from a wireless network by a receiver. The method includes steps of activating the receiver, synchronizing the receiver with the wireless network, detecting, by the receiver after the step of synchronizing, a received access zone of the downlink wireless transmission, determining a base symbol of the detected access zone, ascertaining a first gap and a second gap from repetitive information contained within the determined base symbol, concluding, from the ascertained first and second gaps, that the detected access zone is part of a multiple access zone configuration, and registering, after the step of concluding, the receiver with the wireless network.