This application provides an application instance deployment method, apparatus, and a readable storage medium. In one embodiment, a data analysis network element receives a first message from a first network element, where the first message includes indication information used to indicate a first area. The first message is used to request first indication information that includes prediction information of a terminal device accessing an application instance of a target application in the first area. The data analysis network element determines the first indication information, and sends the first indication information to the first network element.