A femtocell increases efficiency and coverage of a macrocellular network operating in a co-channel manner within the macrocell spectrum by selecting subcarriers for its mobile station using both the subcarrier allocation map received from the macrocell and a spectrum sensing operation. Interference is avoided by selecting only subcarriers not allocated by the macrocell and subcarriers allocated to users not nearby to the femtocell. Interference is eliminated from the received signals using co-channel interference avoidance techniques. Selection of subcarriers for femtocell use may take into consideration inter-carrier interference detected.
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