A communication method, comprising: obtaining, by a network data analytics function network element, an application information target value of a network slice in a specified location area; obtaining, by the network data analytics function network element, a network running information target value of the network slice in the specified location area based on the application information target value and an association relationship between application information and network running information, wherein the association relationship is used to describe an association relationship between application information and network running information when a communications service provided by the network slice in the specified location area meets a service level agreement, SLA; and sending, by the network data analytics function network element, the network running information target value to an operation, administration, and maintenance server; characterised in that the application information target value comprises an application parameter target value that is a target value of a mobility pattern of a terminal device, and/or the application information target value comprises an application parameter target value that is a target value of a communication pattern of the terminal device that need/needs to be supported by the network slice, and wherein the obtaining, by a network data analytics function network element, an application information target value of a network slice in a specified location area comprises: receiving, by the network data analytics function network element, prediction information of a movement track of the terminal device and prediction information of an application parameter from an application function network element, wherein the prediction information of the application parameter is used to predict a mobility pattern and/or a communication pattern used by the terminal device; and obtaining, by the network data analytics function network element, the application information target value based on the prediction information of the movement track of the terminal device and the prediction information of the application parameter. obtaining, by a network data analytics function network element, an application information target value of a network slice in a specified location area; obtaining, by the network data analytics function network element, a network running information target value of the network slice in the specified location area based on the application information target value and an association relationship between application information and network running information, wherein the association relationship is used to describe an association relationship between application information and network running information when a communications service provided by the network slice in the specified location area meets a service level agreement, SLA; and sending, by the network data analytics function network element, the network running information target value to an operation, administration, and maintenance server; characterised in that the application information target value comprises an application parameter target value that is a target value of a mobility pattern of a terminal device, and/or the application information target value comprises an application parameter target value that is a target value of a communication pattern of the terminal device that need/needs to be supported by the network slice, and wherein the obtaining, by a network data analytics function network element, an application information target value of a network slice in a specified location area comprises: receiving, by the network data analytics function network element, prediction information of a movement track of the terminal device and prediction information of an application parameter from an application function network element, wherein the prediction information of the application parameter is used to predict a mobility pattern and/or a communication pattern used by the terminal device; and obtaining, by the network data analytics function network element, the application information target value based on the prediction information of the movement track of the terminal device and the prediction information of the application parameter. receiving, by the network data analytics function network element, prediction information of a movement track of the terminal device and prediction information of an application parameter from an application function network element, wherein the prediction information of the application parameter is used to predict a mobility pattern and/or a communication pattern used by the terminal device; and obtaining, by the network data analytics function network element, the application information target value based on the prediction information of the movement track of the terminal device and the prediction information of the application parameter.