Provided are a data transmission method and apparatus, a sending end sends data to a receiving end on one or more orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in a scheduling unit, and the receiving end receives data sent by the sending end on one or more OFDM symbols in the scheduling unit. A time length of the scheduling unit is a length of two long term evolution (LTE) OFDM symbols having normal cycle prefixes and a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, the scheduling unit is formed by seven or eight OFDM symbols having a subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz, the scheduling unit is maintained to be the seven OFDM symbols having a subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz and having new extended cycle prefixes.