System information is transmitted over an air interface (32) between a node of a telecommunications network and a user equipment unit (30). The system information includes system information blocks which use extended system information block types, e.g., system information block type values which are outside a range of nominal system information block type values. The use of the extended system information block types is facilitated by embodiments of system information extension utility functions at the network node, by method of operating the network nodes, and by corresponding embodiments of system information processing functions provided at the user equipment unit (30).