Method of and apparatus for transmitting messages to a wireless terminal of a wireless communication system

A method of and apparatus for paging a wireless terminal in a wireless telecommunications system reduce standby mode power consumption. A minimally encoded quick paging channel is established over which short, quick page messages (30) are transmitted during one of a set of quick paging slots. The quick page message indicates that a communications request has been received, and that the receiving communication terminals should process a highly encoded full paging channel over which more detailed, full page messages (32) are transmitted during the next full paging slot. A terminal monitors full paging channel only after a quick page message has been received on the quick paging channel. The quick page message comprises a single bit transmitted multiple times by multiple Walsh code modulation. The quick page message occurs during a first time slot and the full page message in a second time slot following this first time slot, wherein different sets of wireless terminals are assigned to different first quick paging time slots.