A method for transmitting a signal in a wireless communications network includes calculating, by a network element, first and second average powers. The first average power is associated with a first time period of a downlink transmission between a transmitter associated with the network element and at least one user, and the second average power is associated with a second time period of the downlink transmission. The method includes transmitting, by the transmitter, the signal at one of a rated transmission power and a boosted transmission power based on a first threshold value associated with the first average power and a second threshold value associated with the second average power. The rated transmission power is less than or equal to a long-term average power limit associated with a power amplifier of the transmitter, and the boosted transmission is greater than the rated power.