<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET OF PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED AT JUNE 30, 1998 AND THE INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 265,047 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 108,499 <ALLOWANCES> 11,008 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 338,867 <PP&E> 123,629 <DEPRECIATION> 11,201 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 714,625 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 175,119 <BONDS> 385,204 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 279 <OTHER-SE> 153,495 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 714,625 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 179,526 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 152,848 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 53,788 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,212 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,780 <INCOME-PRETAX> (27,110) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (27,110) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (27,110) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.30) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.30)