The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for communicating based on improved signaling. A base station can transmit an indication of resources in time and frequency to a UE allocated for NOMA communication with the UE. The indication of resources can comprise a set of NA-RUs. The UE can then transmit uplink NOMA communication to the base station based on the indication of resources received from the base station. Also, the base station can transmit a compact UL resource grant via DCI, or signal the semi-static transport format configuration via RRC, to the UEs allocated for NOMA communication. The DCI or the payload of RRC signaling can be scrambled with a NOMA group RNTI, as well as comprise NOMA transmission parameters indicated by a MCS table. The UE can then transmit uplink NOMA communication to the base station based on the DCI or the RRC signaling.