<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)