This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for narrowband communications using frequency hopping. In some implementations, a user equipment (UE) may receive a discovery reference signal (DRS) including a skipping signal identifying one or more UEs, may stay on an anchor channel when the skipping signal identifies the UE, and may switch from the anchor channel to a first downlink (DL) hopping channel of a DL frequency hopping pattern when the signal does not identify the UE. In some other implementations, a base station (BS) may be configured to output a DRS including a skipping signal identifying one or more UEs, output a signal indicating a channel occupancy time (COT) obtained on a first DL hopping channel of a DL frequency hopping pattern, and output DL data on the first DL hopping channel of the DL frequency hopping pattern.