A communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate a location area in which the terminal device is currently located in a cell managed by the network device; receiving, by the terminal device, second indication information transmitted by the network device, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate a first target waveform, the first target waveform being determined by the network device from at least two optional uplink waveforms according to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located; and performing, by the terminal device, an uplink transmission using the first target waveform; wherein the transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, a random access request to the network device, wherein the random access request carries the first indication information; wherein before the transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device, further comprising: determining, by the terminal device, a preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located from at least two preambles according to a corresponding relationship between the location area and the preamble; the random access request carrying the first indication information comprises: the random access request carries the preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located. transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate a location area in which the terminal device is currently located in a cell managed by the network device; receiving, by the terminal device, second indication information transmitted by the network device, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate a first target waveform, the first target waveform being determined by the network device from at least two optional uplink waveforms according to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located; and performing, by the terminal device, an uplink transmission using the first target waveform; wherein the transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, a random access request to the network device, wherein the random access request carries the first indication information; wherein before the transmitting, by a terminal device, first indication information to a network device, further comprising: determining, by the terminal device, a preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located from at least two preambles according to a corresponding relationship between the location area and the preamble; the random access request carrying the first indication information comprises: the random access request carries the preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located. determining, by the terminal device, a preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located from at least two preambles according to a corresponding relationship between the location area and the preamble; the random access request carrying the first indication information comprises: the random access request carries the preamble corresponding to the location area in which the terminal device is currently located.