A method of communicating data to and/or from mobile communications devices (1402, 1403) in a mobile communications system, the method comprising: providing a wireless access interface for communicating data to and/or from the mobile communications devices, the wireless access interface providing on a downlink a host carrier, the host carrier providing a plurality of resource elements across a first frequency range and having a centre band at a centre of the carrier, transmitting data for a first group of mobile communications devices, wherein the data is distributed within the plurality of resource elements across the first frequency range; a first mobile communications device in the first group of mobile communications devices receiving downlink communications via the host carrier; providing a virtual carrier via the wireless access interface, the virtual carrier providing one or more resource elements within a second frequency range which is within and smaller than the first frequency range; transmitting data for a second group of mobile communications devices via the at least one virtual carrier; and providing in one or more resource elements a virtual carrier signal indicating that the wireless access interface provides a virtual carrier, wherein the signal comprises an indication of the location of a virtual carrier within the first frequency range, wherein the virtual carrier signal is provided within the centre band and outside of a physical broadcast channel provided in the first frequency range for devices in the first group of mobile communications devices to connect to the mobile communications network, a second mobile communications device in the second group of mobile communications devices detecting the virtual carrier; and the second mobile communications device receiving downlink communications via the virtual carrier. providing a wireless access interface for communicating data to and/or from the mobile communications devices, the wireless access interface providing on a downlink a host carrier, the host carrier providing a plurality of resource elements across a first frequency range and having a centre band at a centre of the carrier, transmitting data for a first group of mobile communications devices, wherein the data is distributed within the plurality of resource elements across the first frequency range; a first mobile communications device in the first group of mobile communications devices receiving downlink communications via the host carrier; providing a virtual carrier via the wireless access interface, the virtual carrier providing one or more resource elements within a second frequency range which is within and smaller than the first frequency range; transmitting data for a second group of mobile communications devices via the at least one virtual carrier; and providing in one or more resource elements a virtual carrier signal indicating that the wireless access interface provides a virtual carrier, wherein the signal comprises an indication of the location of a virtual carrier within the first frequency range, wherein the virtual carrier signal is provided within the centre band and outside of a physical broadcast channel provided in the first frequency range for devices in the first group of mobile communications devices to connect to the mobile communications network, a second mobile communications device in the second group of mobile communications devices detecting the virtual carrier; and the second mobile communications device receiving downlink communications via the virtual carrier.