The present invention provides a method for processing a heartbeat message, a method for acquiring a heartbeat period, and an access network device. The method for processing a heartbeat message includes: acquiring, by a terminal, heartbeat control information (101); and sending, by the terminal, a heartbeat message according to the heartbeat control information (102). Embodiments of the present invention can reduce the signaling processing burden on a network side device and reduce the power consumption of a terminal, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the communication service of the terminal.