A network node for a wireless communication system includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to generate a plurality of random access grant signals. The random access grant signals include at least one unoccupied radio network temporary identifier and a resource allocation for an uplink communication request. The plurality of random access grant signals are assigned to one or more downlink transmit beams and the transceiver is configured to periodically transmit the plurality of random access grant signals on the one or more downlink transmit beams using a same time-frequency resource.