A method and system for contention resolution in a communications network are disclosed. As one example, a method for contention resolution in a communications network is disclosed. The method includes the steps of transmitting a first contention message during a first time interval, determining if a second contention message has been received during the first time interval, if the second contention message has been received during the first time interval, deferring a use of a network resource in the communications network, and if the second contention message has not been received during the first time interval, using the network resource during a second time interval.