A method and apparatus relate to the communications system field, and can enlarge an uplink coverage range. The method includes: first, determining a PRB pair of which a quantity of subcarriers is less than 12, then, adding pilot signals to the PRB pair, and finally, sending the pilot signals carried in the PRB pair; or first, determining, from an uplink subframe and a special subframe that are of a TDD radio frame, a subframe for carrying a pilot signal, then, adding a pilot signal to the subframe for carrying a pilot signal, and adding a PUSCH to a special subframe of the TDD radio frame. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to pilot signal transmission in a narrowband system.