A data transmission method in the present application includes: determining, by first UE, a frame structure in a time unit, where the frame structure indicates that N type-1 OFDM symbols and a GP are included in the time unit, and a subcarrier spacing of each type-1 OFDM symbol is Δf1. Therefore, according to the data transmission method and the user equipment in embodiments of the present application, a frame structure in a time unit is determined. The frame structure indicates that N type-1 OFDM symbols and a GP are included in the time unit, and a subcarrier spacing of each type-1 OFDM symbol is Δf1. Therefore, when an NB-IOT system is deployed in an LTE system in an embedded manner, and when NB-IOT UE is sending data, a channel resource of the legacy LTE system can be adequately utilized, and a conflict with a legacy LTE SRS can be avoided.