Method and apparatus for searching cells utilizing downlink preamble signals

A method and an apparatus for searching for cells utilizing downlink preamble signals are provided to improve the speed and accuracy of searching by reducing the complexity of hardware and software and in a cell searching apparatus of a portable device. An apparatus for searching for cells utilizing downlink preamble signals comprises a preamble sequence storage unit(420) and a cell searching unit(430). The preamble sequence storage unit(420) stores a plurality of preamble sequences each of which corresponds to one preamble index. The cell searching unit(430) correlates a received signal with the stored preamble sequences in a time domain and identifies the preamble index corresponding to the received signal. A cell identification number and a segment number are determined according to the preamble index. The cell searching unit sets a correlation window size with respect to the received signal and iteratively correlates the received signal and the preamble sequences over the correlation window size.