A receiver performs synchronization to a secondary component carrier in a wireless communication system. The secondary component carrier is aggregated with a primary component carrier in the wireless communication system. Side information of the secondary component carrier is utilized to reduce occurrences of a number of synchronization hypotheses in a hypothesis test in the case that synchronization to the secondary component carrier is performed. Symbol timing synchronization of the secondary component carrier is determined in accordance with the reduced occurrences of the number of synchronization hypotheses.