Uplink synchronization processes in multi-carrier time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems include determining uplink transmission timing for a first carrier frequency and performing uplink synchronization on the other carrier frequencies based on the transmission timing of the first carrier frequency. The transmission timing may be adjusted based on a timing offset that is measured between the received downlink pilot signals of the various carrier frequencies. User equipment may perform uplink synchronization individually with each of the carriers serviced by a particular Node B after receiving synchronization information regarding those carrier frequencies.