<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>   
                        EXHIBIT  27


       

                                         CAI WIRELESS SYSTEMS, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
                                                   FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                                    AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1997
                                      
<PERIOD-START>                           APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                      861,071
<SECURITIES>                                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                              1,137,519
<ALLOWANCES>                                 372,757
<INVENTORY>                                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   0
<PP&E>                                   102,347,624
<DEPRECIATION>                            35,802,986
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           501,280,629
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              0
<BONDS>                                  325,716,486
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     95,095,593
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                 275,769,414
<OTHER-SE>                              (225,964,614)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             501,280,629
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          15,386,043
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             37,949,866
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          13,740,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             426,200
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        22,929,735
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (57,610,531)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      (57,610,531)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                             (57,610,531)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (1.60)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0