This application provides a communication method and a communications device. The method includes: receiving, by an access network device from a core network device, a first group identifier of a first terminal group and an identifier of a terminal included in the first terminal group; and sending, by the access network device, the first group identifier and a second group identifier of the first terminal group to the terminal included in the first terminal group. The first group identifier and the second group identifier are used to indicate a paging occasion for the first terminal group, and a paging message for the first terminal group is transmitted on a first physical channel. The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application can improve system efficiency.