Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter for use in a base station of an OFDMA system and includes a primary module configured to provide a primary synchronization signal that furnishes a partial cell identity. Additionally, the transmitter also includes a secondary module configured to provide a secondary synchronization signal that furnishes a cell identity group and one or more cell-specific parameters based on using a two-segment secondary synchronization sequence. The transmitter further includes a transmit module configured to transmit the primary and secondary synchronization signals.