A communication method and apparatus are provided. The method can be performed by a first access network device. Under the method, first data transmission information sent by a terminal device can be received. The first data transmission information carries a first identifier and uplink data, and the first identifier includes an identifier identifying an anchor access network device and an identifier identifying the terminal device in the anchor access network device. First processing can be performed on the received uplink data based on channel configuration information of the terminal device. The first processing includes at least one of: physical layer processing, medium access control layer processing, or radio link control layer processing. The first processing includes no decryption and/or integrity check. Second data transmission information can be sent. The second data transmission information carries the first identifier and uplink data obtained after the first processing.