A communication method and apparatus are provided, to resolve a problem that timeliness of data transmission is affected because a communication connection is not established in time. A network protocol stack is deployed for each of a service processing unit and a wireless communication unit in a first communication apparatus. In this way, before the service processing unit enters a working mode, the wireless communication unit may establish a transmission channel with a second communication apparatus based on the deployed network protocol stack. After the service processing unit enters the working mode, the service processing unit exchanges data with the second communication apparatus through the transmission channel based on the deployed network protocol stack.