A beamforming-based communication method includes: obtaining cell information; when the cell information meets a preset low-load condition, dividing to-be-processed broadcast messages into a plurality of broadcast message groups; determining, based on a preset correspondence between a broadcast message and a broadcast beam, a broadcast beam group corresponding to each broadcast message group and a broadcast beam for sending no broadcast message in each time window; sending the broadcast message group in each time window by using the broadcast beam group; and shutting down, in each time window, the broadcast beam for sending no broadcast message. Some broadcast beams are used in each time window to send the broadcast message, and the broadcast beam for sending no broadcast message is shut down.