Terminal device, network node and method for random access in coverage enhancement operation

A cellular network node, comprising:

• a radio interface (31) to receive random access preambles (92-94) from terminal devices (11-13;
• 20), and
• a circuit (32) coupled to the radio interface (31) and operative to
• perform congestion monitoring for PRACH resources for one or several coverage enhancement, CE, levels, and
• control the radio interface (31) based on the congestion monitoring to broadcast a message (91) that includes at least one bit associated with CE operation of terminal devices (11, 12;
• 20) to cause part of the terminal devices (11, 12;
• 20) to delay a CE level dependent repetition of a random access preamble transmission (93, 94).

A method of performing random access when a terminal device (11, 12;

• 20) is in coverage enhancement operation, the method comprising:
• receiving, by the terminal device (11, 12;
• 20), a broadcast message (91) from a cellular network (30, 40), the broadcast message (91) including at least one bit associated with coverage enhancement, CE, operation of the terminal device;
• and
• controlling, when the terminal device (11, 12;
• 20) is in CE operation, a radio interface (21) of the terminal device (11, 12;
• 20) to selectively delay, based on the at least one bit included in the broadcast message (91), a CE level dependent repetition of a random access preamble transmission (93, 94).