Embodiments of the present invention provide a data packet sending method and a radio access network device. The method includes: receiving, by a radio access network device, a data packet sent by a core network device; acquiring duration that the data packet is cached on the radio access network device; and if the duration that the data packet is cached is greater than or equal to a preset wait duration threshold, transiting a user equipment that is in a CELL_FACH state and is corresponding to the data packet to a CELL_DCH state, and sending the data packet to the user equipment that is transited to the CELL_DCH state. The technical solutions in the present invention enable the UE to acquire a data packet in time to normally carry out a service when congestion occurs on a FACH, thereby improving the degree of user experience.