<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
BALANCE SHEET OF AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 31,
1998 AND THE RELATED  STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR THEN
ENDED  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         911
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               7139
<PP&E>                                         1685
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 14634
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          10162
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     3185
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   14634
<SALES>                                        44013
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               44013
<CGS>                                          31849
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  31849
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               19588
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                0
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7127)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.74)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.74)