<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
CAI Wireless Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Data Schedule As Of And
For the Six Months Ended September 30, 1998
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                      12,543,316
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  954,010
<ALLOWANCES>                                   252,375
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                      85,743,853
<DEPRECIATION>                              44,284,791
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             292,082,165
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                    311,558,053
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                   275,770,764
<OTHER-SE>                               (385,735,899)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               292,082,165
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            10,852,156
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               32,262,291
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            45,291,855
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                82,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          18,058,781
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (82,404,155)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       (82,404,155)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                              (82,404,155)
<EPS-BASIC>                                   (2.03)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (2.03)