In a bandwidth allocation method, user equipment (UE) receives virtual bandwidth configuration information and performs signal reception and/or signal processing according to a virtual bandwidth indicated by the virtual bandwidth configuration information, where the virtual bandwidth configuration information is used for indicating a configuration of the virtual bandwidth. The virtual bandwidth is a part or all of a downlink maximum available bandwidth or a downlink transmission bandwidth, and the downlink maximum available bandwidth is a maximum bandwidth available for downlink transmission. In this way, reduction of overheads and reduction of complexity of signal reception and signal processing are implemented, and overheads and complexity of signal reception and processing feedback can be flexibly controlled.