Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for pi/2 BPSK initial access. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes receiving, at a user equipment, information indicating network support of an initial network access based on a pi/2 binary phase shift keying (pi/2-BPSK) modulation and coding scheme; and performing, in response to the received system information, the initial network access by at least sending a connection request based on the pi/2-BPSK modulation and coding scheme. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.