Physical random access channel enhancement for inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point

An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity, comprising at least one memory comprising instructions;

• and one or more processors configured, individually or collectively, to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to:
• transmit signaling indicating a set of one or more physical random access channel (PRACH) configurations associated with one or more additional physical cell identifiers (PCIs) different from a first PCI associated with a serving cell, wherein each PRACH configuration in the set indicates a number of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) per random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO);
• transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order to trigger a PRACH transmission associated with an active additional PCI of the additional PCIs;
• receive a PRACH associated with the active additional PCI based on one PRACH configuration of the set of PRACH configurations that is associated with the active additional PCI;
• transmit an indication of a timing advance (TA) associated with the active additional PCI;
• and
• receive an uplink transmission associated with the active additional PCI.

A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• receiving signaling indicating a set of one or more physical random access channel (PRACH) configurations associated with one or more additional physical cell identifiers (PCIs) different from a first PCI associated with a serving cell, wherein each PRACH configuration in the set indicates a number of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) per random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO);
• receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order to trigger a PRACH transmission associated with an active additional PCI of the additional PCIs;
• transmitting a PRACH associated with the active additional PCI based on one PRACH configuration of the set of PRACH configurations that is associated with the additional PCI;
• receiving an indication of a timing advance (TA) associated with the active additional PCI;
• and
• applying the TA for an uplink transmission associated with the active additional PCI.