A terminal receives configuration information of a first reference signal from a network device; and sends, based on the configuration information, uplink signals to the network device in at least two time units, wherein the uplink signals each comprise uplink data and the first reference signal, the at least two time units comprise a first time unit and a second time unit, the first time unit is adjacent to and located before the second time unit, the first reference signal is carried on the first N symbols in symbols that are in the second time unit and on which the uplink signal is located, the first reference signal is carried on the last M symbols in symbols that are in the first time unit and on which the uplink signal is located, and N and M are integers greater than or equal to 1.