<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 000854852 <NAME> MICROTEL INTERNATIONAL, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 861,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 7,583,000 <ALLOWANCES> 228,000 <INVENTORY> 7,844,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17,382,000 <PP&E> 11,075,000 <DEPRECIATION> 6,079,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,460,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,101,000 <BONDS> 3,013,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 701,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38,000 <OTHER-SE> 5,890,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,460,000 <SALES> 31,272,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 31,272,000 <CGS> 23,542,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 39,398,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 659,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8,805,000) <INCOME-TAX> 6,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,811,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,811,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.92) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.92)