Techniques for supporting communication for wireless devices in a wireless network are described. The wireless network may support a first physical channel having a first minimum SNR for reliable reception. Some wireless devices may require operation at a lower SNR. In an aspect, low SNR operation may be supported by transmitting data on a second physical channel that can be reliably received at a second minimum SNR that is lower than the first minimum SNR. In another aspect, low SNR operation may be supported by transmitting data on both the first and second physical channels. In yet another aspect, low SNR operation may be supported by transmitting data in multiple instances of the first and/or second physical channel. In yet another aspect, low power operation may be supported by transmitting the second physical channel in a portion of the system bandwidth instead of across the entire system bandwidth.