Systems, methods, and apparatuses disclosed herein can operate on an unlicensed spectrum. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can perform a first listen-before-talk (LBT) operation of a LBT protocol in a first slot from among multiple slots to determine whether the unlicensed spectrum is unoccupied. Thereafter, these systems, methods, and apparatuses can transmit an uplink (UL) transmission in other slots from among the plurality of slots in response to the unlicensed spectrum being unoccupied. Otherwise, these systems, methods, and apparatuses can perform a second LBT operation in a second slot from among the plurality of slots in response to the unlicensed spectrum being occupied.