In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory comprising instructions and a processor in communications with the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine a reference signal received power of user equipment (UE). In response to determining that the reference signal received power is less than or equal to a threshold, it is determined that the UE supports sending a physical random access channel, receiving a random access response message, sending a random access response acknowledgment message, and receiving a contention resolution message. In response to determining that the reference signal received power is above the threshold, it is determined that the UE supports sending the physical random access channel, and receiving the contention resolution message, and it is determined that the UE does not support sending the random access response acknowledgment message and receiving the random access response message.