Question: In a Type 1 channel access procedure, what condition must be met for a gNB/UE to transmit after completing step 4, if the counter is not zero and the channel was previously sensed idle?
Option 1: The gNB/UE must sense the channel to be idle for an additional full defer duration before transmission.
Option 2: The gNB/UE can transmit immediately if it senses the channel idle in just one sensing slot duration after step 4.
Option 3: The gNB/UE needs to restart the procedure from step 1, sensing the channel idle for a defer duration again.
Option 4: The gNB/UE must wait for a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) period to elapse before re-attempting transmission.
Explanation: According to the Type 1 channel access procedure, if the counter is not zero after step 4 and the channel was previously sensed idle, the gNB/UE must ensure the channel remains idle for an additional period to avoid collisions. This is achieved by sensing the channel for an additional full defer duration (including at least one sensing slot for idleness verification), ensuring the channel's continued idleness before transmission can occur, aligning with shared spectrum access and collision avoidance principles.