a transceiver;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify a time or frequency resource allocated for communication with a user equipment (UE); and

transmit, to a neighboring network entity, a muting message indicating that the time or frequency resource is occupied for communication;

wherein the muting message corresponds to a two-dimensional bitmap where a first value indicates a resource grid of time or frequency domain resources to be muted at the neighboring network entity, and a second value indicates a different resource grid of time or frequency domain resources available at the neighboring network entity, the muting message is transmitted per beam, and the muting message mutes at least one beam in a different network entity having an overlapping coverage area with the apparatus.