Pilot data and data-bearer data are formed to be mutually orthogonal and in each other's null-space. Data to be transmitted is first modulated with the data-bearer matrix and then pilot data is added thereto. The pilot data may be added to each modulated symbol, thereby increasing significantly the density of pilot information available at the receiver for channel state estimation. When pilot data is added across an entire transmitted block of data, data detection performance is improved for even fast fading Rayleigh fading channels.