A method of operating a network node that controls a component of a wireless communications network is described. The network component has a receiver with at least one receiver structure that can assume two or more states, including a first state corresponding to an enhanced receiver performance and a second state corresponding to a reduced receiver performance and a reduced power consumption. The method comprises determining a network condition and, in dependence of the network condition, generating a performance control signal that aims at controlling the state of the receiver structure, and transmitting the performance control signal to the network component. The invention is further directed the performance control signal generated by the network node and the network component which the network node intends to control.