Accessing a heterogeneous network through a transmission and reception point or through a uplink only reception point

Abstract

A method of operating a communications device is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a transmission and reception point, TRP, of a heterogeneous communications network, an indicator that provides an indication of whether the communications device is to perform a first initial access procedure for connecting to the heterogeneous communications network via the TRP or a second initial access procedure for connecting to the heterogeneous communications network via an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the heterogeneous communications network, wherein the TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, determining, based on the received indicator, whether to perform the first initial access procedure or the second initial access procedure, wherein the first initial access procedure comprises selecting one of a plurality of synchronisation signal blocks, SSBs, transmitted by the TRP to the communications device and performing a first random access procedure together with the TRP on the basis of the selected SSB, and wherein the second initial access procedure comprises selecting one of the plurality of SSBs and performing a second random access procedure together with the TRP and the URP on the basis of the selected SSB, and performing the determined one of the first initial access procedure and the second initial access procedure to connect to the heterogeneous communications network.

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