A technique for spectral widening in a communication system may divide respective symbols of a block of symbols into symbol pieces of shorter duration than a symbol. The symbol pieces may be scrambled. The resulting scrambled symbol pieces may optionally be further spread using direct-sequence spreading prior to transmission. Error-control coding may also be used prior to dividing the symbols into symbol pieces and scrambling the symbol pieces. Additionally, the number of symbol pieces per symbol may be adjustable, based on channel characteristics, performance, or both.