A mobile communication terminal and a communication method are provided which can reduce consumed power at the time of intermittent reception operation. The mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a RAM, an internal memory operable in a higher speed then the RAM, an arithmetic processing unit for performing a communication operation by using a communication program loaded in the RAM, an intermittent control unit, and a storage unit for storing an intermittent operation program. The intermittent control unit transfers the intermittent operation program stored in the storage unit to the internal memory in response to an intermittent operation start signal issued from the communication arithmetic processing unit. The communication arithmetic processing unit stops the communication operation when the transfer is completed and performs the intermittent reception operation by using the intermittent operation program stored in the internal memory.