Method for a user equipment operating in a cellular network comprising a plurality of base stations (eNB), wherein the user equipment is operating with at least one base station (eNB) supplying a cell, hereinafter referred to as the addressed base station, the method comprising the steps for the user equipment of: - receiving an indication from the addressed base station (eNB) relating to a submission time of a preamble message, - estimating a timing advance value relating to a signal transmission from the user equipment to the addressed base station (eNB) by means of calculating a distance value between the user equipment and the addressed base station and translating the distance value into the timing advance value, - calculating a signal offset value from said estimated timing advance value, - sending the preamble message (S11, S21) to the addressed base station (eNB) comprising a value relating to the estimated timing advance value at a specific point in time, wherein the point in time for sending said preamble message (S11, S21) is based on said calculated signal offset and said indicated submission time, wherein the step of estimating the timing advance value from the user equipment to the addressed base station (eNB) comprises: - measuring a received reference signal from said base station (eNB), - deriving an attenuation value from said measured signal, - wherein the step of calculating the distance value is based on a propagation delay model using line-of-sight, characterized in that the step of calculating the distance value comprises a calculation of a first distance value based on the attenuation value and a calculation of a second distance value based on geographical positions, and wherein in case of a difference between said first and second distance values, the step of translating the first and second distance values into the timing advance value comprises selecting the larger of said first and second distance values as distance value input for said propagation delay model. a plurality of base stations (eNB), wherein the user equipment is operating with at least one base station (eNB) supplying a cell, hereinafter referred to as the addressed base station, the method comprising the steps for the user equipment of: - receiving an indication from the addressed base station (eNB) relating to a submission time of a preamble message, - estimating a timing advance value relating to a signal transmission from the user equipment to the addressed base station (eNB) by means of calculating a distance value between the user equipment and the addressed base station and translating the distance value into the timing advance value, - calculating a signal offset value from said estimated timing advance value, - sending the preamble message (S11, S21) to the addressed base station (eNB) - receiving an indication from the addressed base station (eNB) relating to a submission time of a preamble message, - estimating a timing advance value relating to a signal transmission from the user equipment to the addressed base station (eNB) by means of calculating a distance value between the user equipment and the addressed base station and translating the distance value into the timing advance value, - calculating a signal offset value from said estimated timing advance value, - sending the preamble message (S11, S21) to the addressed base station (eNB) comprising a value relating to the estimated timing advance value at a specific point in time, wherein the point in time for sending said preamble message (S11, S21) is based on said calculated signal offset and said indicated submission time, wherein the step of estimating the timing advance value from the user equipment to the addressed base station (eNB) comprises: - measuring a received reference signal from said base station (eNB), - deriving an attenuation value from said measured signal, - wherein the step of calculating the distance value is based on a propagation delay model using line-of-sight, - measuring a received reference signal from said base station (eNB), - deriving an attenuation value from said measured signal, - wherein the step of calculating the distance value is based on a propagation delay model using line-of-sight, characterized in that the step of calculating the distance value comprises a calculation of a first distance value based on the attenuation value and a calculation of a second distance value based on geographical positions, and wherein in case of a difference between said first and second distance values, the step of translating the first and second distance values into the timing advance value comprises selecting the larger of said first and second distance values as distance value input for said propagation delay model.