<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SBC
COMMUNICATIONS INC.'S DECEMBER 31, 1996 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                            DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          324
<SECURITIES>                                    432
<RECEIVABLES>                                 5,347
<ALLOWANCES>                                    339
<INVENTORY>                                       0<F1>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              6,739
<PP&E>                                       66,503
<DEPRECIATION>                               38,819
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               42,057
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         9,979
<BONDS>                                      12,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                        991
<OTHER-SE>                                    9,137
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 42,057
<SALES>                                           0<F2>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             25,202
<CGS>                                             0<F3>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                14,510
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              4,466
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                438
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              901
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               5,457
<INCOME-TAX>                                  2,070
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           3,387
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                        90
<NET-INCOME>                                  3,477
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.77
<FN>
<F1> THIS AMOUNT IS IMMATERIAL.
<F2> NET SALES OF TANGIBLE PRODUCTS IS NOT MORE THAN 10% OF TOTAL OPERATING
     REVENUES AND THEREFORE HAS NOT BEEN STATED SEPARATELY IN THE FINANCIAL
     STATEMENTS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S-X, RULE 5-03(B).  THIS AMOUNT IS
     INCLUDED IN THE "TOTAL REVENUES" TAG.
<F3> COST OF TANGIBLE GOODS SOLD IS INCLUDED IN OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT
     IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE "TOTAL-COST" TAG, PURSUANT TO
     REGULATION S-X, RULE 5-03(B).
</FN>