<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
OF AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS  AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                            4245
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     8469
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 17146
<PP&E>                                            1418
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   18702
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             9943
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            83
<OTHER-SE>                                        8097
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     18702
<SALES>                                          26841
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 26841
<CGS>                                            18393
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    18393
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  8262
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   7
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    299
<INCOME-TAX>                                       125
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       173
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.02)