A system and method for estimating sample clock frequency offset (.epsilon..sub.s) in a digital radio mondiale (DRM) system such as, for example, DRM receivers. The system and method includes using a relationship given by the following equation: s = linearfit ( angle ( P G m P G_tr m P G m - cycle P G_tr m - cycle ) , l ) .times. N 2 .pi. .times. cycle .times. ( N + L ) wherein the P.sub.Gm is the gain pilot received in the m.sup.th symbol and P.sub.G.sub.--.sub.trm is the gain pilot transmitted in the m.sup.th symbol, the P.sub.Gm-cycle is the gain pilot received in (m-cycle).sup.th symbol, the P.sub.G.sub.--.sub.trm-cycle is the second gain pilot transmitted in (m-cycle).sup.th symbol, the l is the index of the sub-carrier associated with the gain pilot, the N is a factor of a sample point number of a useful symbol, the L is a sample point number of a guard interval, and the cycle is the interval of two symbols which are inserted gain pilots at the same sub-carriers (l).