Various communication systems may benefit from an improved signaling protocol. For example, communication systems may benefit from an improved network support for a narrowband internet of things in a hosting long term evolution carrier. A method, in certain embodiments, includes shifting a frequency of a downlink long term evolution channel by a pre-determined amount. The shift causes a duplex distance between the downlink long term evolution channel and an uplink long term evolution channel to change. The method includes blanking at least one overlapping radio resource in at least one of the uplink long term evolution channel or an uplink narrowband internet of things channel. The uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel at least partially overlap. In addition, the method includes receiving data on the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and an additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel at a network entity from a user equipment.