A method includes: selecting a paging channel for a paged user equipment according to rule information, where the paging channel includes a page indicator channel PICH channel or includes a PICH channel and a paging-message-bearer channel, and the rule information includes a quantity of page indicator channels and further includes a preset threshold and/or a correspondence between a user equipment type and a paging channel; calculating a paging occasion for the paged user equipment; and on the paging occasion, sending a page indicator to the paged user equipment through the selected PICH channel and sending a paging message to the paged user equipment through the paging-message-bearer channel, where the paging message carries paging data. The quantity of times that user equipment receives an unnecessary paging message is reduced, and the amount of electricity consumed by the user equipment is further reduced.