<ARTICLE>        5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          26,153
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   30,538
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,487
<INVENTORY>                                      4,564
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                63,888
<PP&E>                                         244,286
<DEPRECIATION>                                  89,688
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 384,752
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           25,823
<BONDS>                                        682,999
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       306,818
<OTHER-SE>                                   (642,266)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   384,752
<SALES>                                        171,435<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               171,435
<CGS>                                           39,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  150,851
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (1,651)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,092
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              49,212
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (26,977)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (26,977)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (33,500)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,477
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.53)<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Includes cellular, paging, and equipment revenues
<F2>Basic and diluted EPS are equal.
</FN>