Provided is a method to operate a base station that is part of a cellular network. The base station is configured to ascertain capability information from said reduced-capability user equipment indicating a capable uplink frequency bandwidth and a capable downlink frequency bandwidth. The method includes transmitting at least one first downlink signal for user equipment considering the received capability information, said first downlink signal indicating an assignment to a scheduled uplink frequency band, and scheduling information in the scheduled downlink frequency band for synchronously transmission in a predetermined nominal spacing to said scheduled uplink frequency band based on the center of the scheduled uplink frequency band and the scheduled downlink frequency band.