A method for providing power-conserving operation of user equipment, UE, in a cellular communication network, the method comprising: by the UE, during a first stage of a multiple stage wake up, WU, process configured to conditionally transition the UE from low power operation to communication ready operation: receiving a control signal multiplexed with one or more data channels for at least one other UE operable in the cellular communication network; determining at the first stage of the multiple stage WU process whether to transition one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation based at least in part on detecting the control signal multiplexed with the one or more data channels for the at least one other UE and information provided by and/or with the detected control signal; and instituting a gap between an end of a duration of the first stage of the WU process and initiation of a duration where the UE is operable to receive and transmit when the control signal is detected; when it is determined that the one or more receivers of the UE are to be transitioned to the communication ready operation at the first stage of the WU process, transitioning the one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation at a second stage of the multiple stage WU process; and when it is determined that the one or more receivers of the UE are not to be transitioned to the communication ready operation at the first stage of the WU process, ending a cycle of the WU process without performing the second stage of the WU process to transition the one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation. by the UE, during a first stage of a multiple stage wake up, WU, process configured to conditionally transition the UE from low power operation to communication ready operation: receiving a control signal multiplexed with one or more data channels for at least one other UE operable in the cellular communication network; determining at the first stage of the multiple stage WU process whether to transition one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation based at least in part on detecting the control signal multiplexed with the one or more data channels for the at least one other UE and information provided by and/or with the detected control signal; and instituting a gap between an end of a duration of the first stage of the WU process and initiation of a duration where the UE is operable to receive and transmit when the control signal is detected; receiving a control signal multiplexed with one or more data channels for at least one other UE operable in the cellular communication network; determining at the first stage of the multiple stage WU process whether to transition one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation based at least in part on detecting the control signal multiplexed with the one or more data channels for the at least one other UE and information provided by and/or with the detected control signal; and instituting a gap between an end of a duration of the first stage of the WU process and initiation of a duration where the UE is operable to receive and transmit when the control signal is detected; when it is determined that the one or more receivers of the UE are to be transitioned to the communication ready operation at the first stage of the WU process, transitioning the one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation at a second stage of the multiple stage WU process; and when it is determined that the one or more receivers of the UE are not to be transitioned to the communication ready operation at the first stage of the WU process, ending a cycle of the WU process without performing the second stage of the WU process to transition the one or more receivers of the UE from the low power operation to the communication ready operation.