Detecting physical random access channel (RACH) preambles is accomplished by computing a correlation power profile based on received RACH preambles, where the correlation power profile values may be sorted. A weight factor is computed for each of the correlation power profile values based on a normalized RACH detection threshold. Outlier peaks of the correlation power profile values are selected based on the weight factor. The outlier peaks to the first set of RACH signatures are mapped in order to identify a user equipment (UE) that is associated with one of the received RACH preambles. Network traffic is then controlled for network communications associated with the identified UE.