A data transmission method is disclosed to improve service scheduling flexibility. The method includes: sending, by a base station, configuration information to a terminal, where the configuration information includes symbol quantity information, and the symbol quantity information is used to indicate a quantity of symbols that are used when the base station performs data exchange with the terminal; and sending, by the base station to the terminal, data transmitted in unit of a symbol, or receiving data transmitted in unit of a symbol, where the data occupies m symbols in a time domain, and m is a quantity that is indicated in the configuration information and that is of symbols that are used.