A packet sending method, wherein the method comprises a packet sending apparatus: receiving a packet notification message sent by a first forwarding entity, wherein the first forwarding entity is a forwarding entity that receives a packet that is sent by a public data network, PDN, to a mobile terminal, and the packet notification message carries at least a terminal address of the mobile terminal; send a data notification message to a mobile network controller, EPCC, wherein the data notification message carries the terminal address of the mobile terminal, so that the EPCC pages the mobile terminal according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal; and if the mobile terminal is in an idle state, paging the mobile terminal according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal sets up a connection to a base station, eNodeB; and setting up a data channel between the eNodeB and the first forwarding entity, to connect the mobile terminal and the first forwarding entity, so that the first forwarding entity sends the packet to the mobile terminal by using the data channel and the connection; wherein the method further comprises, when the first forwarding entity receives the packet that is sent by the PDN to the mobile terminal in the idle state, the first forwarding entity searches a stored forwarding flow table according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal that is included in packet characteristic information from the packet, and if no forwarding flow table including the terminal address of the mobile terminal is found, the first forwarding entity obtains the packet characteristic information from the packet, and obtains the terminal address of the mobile terminal from the packet characteristic information, and sends the packet notification message to a software defined networking "SDN" controller, wherein the packet notification message carries the obtained terminal address of the mobile terminal, or the packet notification message carries the packet. receiving a packet notification message sent by a first forwarding entity, wherein the first forwarding entity is a forwarding entity that receives a packet that is sent by a public data network, PDN, to a mobile terminal, and the packet notification message carries at least a terminal address of the mobile terminal; send a data notification message to a mobile network controller, EPCC, wherein the data notification message carries the terminal address of the mobile terminal, so that the EPCC pages the mobile terminal according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal; and if the mobile terminal is in an idle state, paging the mobile terminal according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal sets up a connection to a base station, eNodeB; and setting up a data channel between the eNodeB and the first forwarding entity, to connect the mobile terminal and the first forwarding entity, so that the first forwarding entity sends the packet to the mobile terminal by using the data channel and the connection; wherein the method further comprises, when the first forwarding entity receives the packet that is sent by the PDN to the mobile terminal in the idle state, the first forwarding entity searches a stored forwarding flow table according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal that is included in packet characteristic information from the packet, and if no forwarding flow table including the terminal address of the mobile terminal is found, the first forwarding entity obtains the packet characteristic information from the packet, and obtains the terminal address of the mobile terminal from the packet characteristic information, and sends the packet notification message to a software defined networking "SDN" controller, wherein the packet notification message carries the obtained terminal address of the mobile terminal, or the packet notification message carries the packet.