<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001070677 <NAME> US XCHANGE LLC <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 100,590 111,837,895 <SECURITIES> 0 24,569,509 <RECEIVABLES> 145,235 944,744 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 406,433 137,913,254 <PP&E> 28,157,088 62,226,300 <DEPRECIATION> 189,347 1,262,097 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 28,385,270 263,680,917 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,123,659 20,896,183 <BONDS> 2,189,000 203,000,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 5,000,000 60,000,000 <OTHER-SE> (5,966,178) (20,215,266) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 28,385,270 263,680,917 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 206,682 1,984,403 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,004,598 4,007,146 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 11,807,814 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30,452 630,196 <INCOME-PRETAX> (5,828,368) (14,249,088) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,828,368) (14,249,088) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,828,368) (14,249,088) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0