<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED AS PART OF 360 COMMUNICATIONS' THIRD QUARTER 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001003959 <NAME> 360 COMMUNICATIONS <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 6,975 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 153,206 <ALLOWANCES> 7,900 <INVENTORY> 29,832 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 254,130 <PP&E> 1,890,919 <DEPRECIATION> 690,483 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,987,155 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 845,654 <BONDS> 1,328,413 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 527,982 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,987,155 <SALES> 39,652 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,173,971 <CGS> 77,211 <TOTAL-COSTS> 994,419 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 136,579 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 99,845 <INCOME-PRETAX> 114,845 <INCOME-TAX> 102,660 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,185 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,185 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0