A communication method, comprising: receiving, by a target access network device, at least one first packet of a terminal when the terminal is handed over from a source access network device to the target access network device; buffering, by the target access network device, the at least one first packet; sending the at least one buffered first packet to the terminal when the target access network device receives a second packet and a third packet from the source access network device, or the target access network device receives one of the second packet and the third packet and does not receive the other one of the second packet and the third packet within a preset period, or the target access network device does not receive the second packet or the third packet within the preset period, wherein the second packet and the third packet are end identification packets, wherein the second packet carries first identification information, and the first identification information is used to identify that the second packet is sent by a core network device; and/or the third packet carries second identification information, and the second identification information is used to identify that the third packet is sent by a local routing device; sending, by the target access network device, a notification message to the local routing device, wherein the notification message is used to instruct the local routing device to send the third packet to the source access network device; and starting, by the target access network device and on reception of the second packet, a timer, wherein if the target access network device does not receive the third packet within a preset period of the timer after receiving the second packet, the target access network device sends the at least one buffered first packet to the terminal. receiving, by a target access network device, at least one first packet of a terminal when the terminal is handed over from a source access network device to the target access network device; buffering, by the target access network device, the at least one first packet; sending the at least one buffered first packet to the terminal when the target access network device receives a second packet and a third packet from the source access network device, or the target access network device receives one of the second packet and the third packet and does not receive the other one of the second packet and the third packet within a preset period, or the target access network device does not receive the second packet or the third packet within the preset period, wherein the second packet and the third packet are end identification packets, wherein the second packet carries first identification information, and the first identification information is used to identify that the second packet is sent by a core network device; and/or the third packet carries second identification information, and the second identification information is used to identify that the third packet is sent by a local routing device; sending, by the target access network device, a notification message to the local routing device, wherein the notification message is used to instruct the local routing device to send the third packet to the source access network device; and starting, by the target access network device and on reception of the second packet, a timer, wherein if the target access network device does not receive the third packet within a preset period of the timer after receiving the second packet, the target access network device sends the at least one buffered first packet to the terminal.