Random access coverage extension in wireless communications

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• a processor, memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive, from a base station, physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration information that indicates a plurality of PRACH occasions available for transmission of random access requests, wherein a first subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are configured with a first subcarrier spacing (SCS) and a second subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are configured with a second SCS that is smaller than the first SCS, and wherein the second subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are available for transmission of a coverage extension (CE) random access request;
• select two or more PRACH occasions of the second subset of PRACH occasions for transmission of the CE random access request;
• and
• transmit the CE random access request via the selected two or more PRACH occasions.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

• receive, from a base station, physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration information that indicates a plurality of PRACH occasions available for transmission of random access requests, wherein a first subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are configured with a first subcarrier spacing (SCS) and a second subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are configured with a second SCS that is smaller than the first SCS, and wherein the second subset of the plurality of PRACH occasions are available for transmission of a coverage extension (CE) random access request;
• select two or more PRACH occasions of the second subset of PRACH occasions for transmission of the CE random access request;
• and
• transmit the CE random access request via the selected two or more PRACH occasions.