<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS RESTATED SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                        12,088
<SECURITIES>                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                 69,957
<ALLOWANCES>                  3,131
<INVENTORY>                   6,613
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              125,091
<PP&E>                        1,744,063
<DEPRECIATION>                604,355
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                2,224,459
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         148,214
<BONDS>                       630,232
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   10,041
<COMMON>                      60,152
<OTHER-SE>                    1,096,863
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  2,224,459
<SALES>                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              409,561
<CGS>                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 289,458
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            22,364
<INCOME-PRETAX>               181,627
<INCOME-TAX>                  65,316
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           116,311
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  116,311
<EPS-PRIMARY>                 1.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                 1.92