<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF OPERATIONS  AND
CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                             

<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                          5188
<SECURITIES>                       0 
<RECEIVABLES>                   7853
<ALLOWANCES>                       0
<INVENTORY>                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               17634
<PP&E>                          1316
<DEPRECIATION>                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 19085
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          10449
<BONDS>                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              0
<PREFERRED>                        0
<COMMON>                          92
<OTHER-SE>                      7965
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   19085
<SALES>                        39244
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               39244
<CGS>                          27304
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  27304
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               12138
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 9
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   12
<INCOME-TAX>                      (5)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                0
<DISCONTINUED>                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                    0
<CHANGES>                          0
<NET-INCOME>                       7
<EPS-PRIMARY>                  (0.01)
<EPS-DILUTED>                  (0.01)