An uplink control structure and pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network are presented. The uplink control structure enables mobile terminals to communicate with base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and mobile terminal allowing the mobile terminal to select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection. Pilot signals with varying density configurations are provided, including low density symbol patterns for multiple contiguous resource blocks and high density symbol patterns for single resource blocks.