The present invention discloses a method for improving channel estimation in a communications network. The method comprises estimating first channel characteristics of first sub-carriers carrying pilot signals; obtaining second channel characteristics of second sub-carriers carrying data using the first channel characteristics of the first sub-carriers with an algorithm that comprises selecting a first process from the group consisting of two-dimensional interpolation and extrapolation channel estimation algorithms, breaking down the first process, according to a predetermined rule, into second processes selected from the group consisting of one-dimensional interpolation and extrapolation channel estimation algorithms, and calculating the second channel characteristics of the second sub-carriers carrying data; demodulating and decoding the data carried in the second sub-carriers using the second channel characteristics; obtaining channel information about the first and the second channel characteristics from demodulating and decoding the data; and revising the first and the second channel characteristics using the channel information.