A method for enhanced rate adaptation by a radio access network (RAN) node includes: determining a first code rate, for sending one or more messages to a user equipment (UE) before a first time, based at least in part on a first rank and a first message error rate; sending the one or more messages to the UE before the first time using the first code rate; receiving channel quality information and a second rank from the UE at the first time, wherein the second rank is different than the first rank; determining a second code rate, for sending one or more messages to the UE after the first time and before a second time, based at least in part on the received channel quality information and second rank; and sending the one or more messages to the UE, after the first time and before a second time, using the second code rate.