A method and mobile communications device for receiving a composite signal composed of a plurality of resource elements, the plurality of resource elements including: a plurality of data resource elements subject to interference; measuring a first noise plus interference level on at least one predefined resource element from the plurality of resource elements; measuring a noise plus interference level on the plurality of data resource elements subject to interference; determining a baseline noise plus interference level common to the plurality of data resource elements subject to interference; and generating a hybrid noise plus interference level by replacing the baseline noise plus interference level with the first noise plus interference level from the at least one predefined resource element.