Exhibit 23.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our report dated February 9, 2000, except for the third paragraph of
Note 1 as to which the date is March 22, 2000, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of US Unwired Inc., our report dated February 9, 2000 with
respect to the financial statements of Louisiana Unwired, LLC, and our report
dated February 9, 2000 with respect to the financial statements of Meretel
Communications, L.P., in Amendment No. 6 to the Registration Statement (Form S-
4) and related Prospectus of US Unwired Inc.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
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    Ernst & Young

Houston, Texas

March 23, 2000