Improved techniques of include performing random access in an antenna-distributed network include introducing a new parameter, as reduced Tx power indicator, in the RAR of Msg-2 that indicates a reduced total Tx power of all antenna nodes of the antenna-distributed network. When the gNB receives a Msg-1, the gNB determines a subset of the distributed antenna nodes to which the gNB will send the RAR in the Msg-2 with the reduced total Tx power needed to transmit the Msg-2 to only those antenna nodes in the subset. The RAR includes a new parameter indicating the reduced total Tx power used to transmit the RAR to the UE. The UE then uses the value of the new parameter to estimate a pathloss for the Msg-3 and PUSCH transmission.