The present invention provides a method of and a network entity for processing a random access preamble. The network entity comprises a transceiver for receiving an random access preamble; and a processor for determining if the random access preamble is successfully detected, and for determining, in the case where the random access preamble is not successfully detected, if a combined preamble resulting from a combination of the random access preamble with a previous random access preamble received at the network entity prior to reception of the random access preamble and having an identical signature to the signature of the random access preamble, is successfully detected.