This application provides example communication methods and apparatuses. One example method includes performing, by a network device on a preconfigured resource, data demodulation on uplink data from a terminal device. The network device can then send downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal device, where the DCI includes first indication information, and if the uplink data fails to be demodulated, or it is determined, based on a result of the data demodulation, that the terminal device needs to retransmit the uplink data, the first indication information indicates either the terminal device to initiate random access or EDT and retransmit the uplink data or that the uplink data fails to be demodulated.