COT sharing indicator for message 3 in random access procedure

A method of operating a user equipment, UE, in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a first random access procedure message from a base station, the first random access procedure message containing a channel access type field that indicates a channel access type used for transmitting the second random access procedure message during a shared channel occupancy time, COT, period associated with the first random access procedure message;
• and
• transmitting a second random access procedure message to the base station within the shared COT period;
• wherein the first random access procedure message further comprises a COT sharing indicator that indicates the shared COT period associated with the first random access procedure message, wherein the COT sharing indicator comprises one of:
• a bit that is reused from an existing uplink grant field,
• a bit that is reused from a medium access control, MAC, payload or a MAC subheader, or
• a bit that is reused from a timing advance command field.