<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> CAI WIRELESS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 21,078,515 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 741,722 <ALLOWANCES> 284,954 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 85,627,391 <DEPRECIATION> 47,380,410 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 288,492,366 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 106,456,285 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 172,414 <OTHER-SE> 87,442,387 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 288,492,366 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 14,972,024 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 48,381,425 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 46,219,019 <LOSS-PROVISION> 159,300 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30,282,932 <INCOME-PRETAX> (105,928,285) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (105,928,285) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 204,345,447 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 98,417,162 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.97) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.97)