Sidelink aided scalable initial access for massive iiot support

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• select at least one sidelink resource from at least one sidelink resource pool configured for initial access to at least one primary serving network entity;
• transmit at least one uplink request message for initial access to the at least one primary serving network entity on the selected at least one sidelink resource;
• and
• receive, in response to the at least one uplink request message, at least one indication from the primary serving network entity.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive at least one uplink request message from at least one user equipment;
• determine whether the at least one uplink request message is associated with at least one received user equipment identifier on at least one sidelink resource;
• and
• transmit at least one indication to the at least one user equipment, and wherein the at least one indication comprises downlink control information via one or more of at least one physical downlink control channel and at least one connection setup message.

A method, comprising:

• selecting, by a user equipment, at least one sidelink resource from at least one sidelink resource pool configured for initial access to at least one primary serving network entity;
• transmitting, by the user equipment, at least one uplink request for initial access to the at least one primary serving network entity on the selected at least one sidelink resource;
• and
• receiving, by the user equipment, in response to the at least one uplink request for the initial access, at least one indication from the primary serving network entity.