Systems and methods configured for supporting multi-hop communications are described. Embodiments provide unavailable packet signaling by a base station aiding a multi-hop communication link. For example, the base station may transmit a predetermined “unavailable” message (e.g., an explicit and affirmatively transmitted message having predetermined content and/or format transmitted according to the schedule of the failed message) when an uplink data transmission in a multi-hop communication link fails or is otherwise currently unavailable. The unavailable packet signaling may be provided in association with a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) and control channel scheduled retransmission technique, such as for supporting Internet of things (IoT), such as industrial Internet of things (IIoT), traffic. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.