<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
1ST QUARTER OF 1998 FORM 10-Q OF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE
COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          31,500
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  314,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,200
<INVENTORY>                                     13,300
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               399,200
<PP&E>                                       4,352,400
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,980,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,861,800
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          499,300
<BONDS>                                        667,200
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       380,400
<OTHER-SE>                                     198,400
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,861,800
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               335,100
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  266,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 55,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                    20,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             35,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    35,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0