<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