Methods and systems that enable payload data to be spread over a number of a plurality of sub-carriers for wireless transmissions between Access Points (AP) and stations (STA) in a WLAN. The AP receives each STA's status information, and controls an amount of spreading of the payload data that can flexibly and variably takes into account the desired amount of peak power consumption, the required data rate, and the channel conditions. Based on these factors, the AP determines a number of sub-carriers for each STA that will be used to carry the spread payload data. Example embodiments can address high power peak consumption, data rate inflexibility and inefficient spectrum communication as found in conventional wireless systems.