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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                           The Securities Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 5, 2001



                            Global TeleSystems, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


  Delaware                       0-23717                         94-3068423
  ------------                  -----------                   -----------------
(State or other                (Commission                    (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                File Number)                  Identification No.)
incorporation)


                              4121 Wilson Boulevard
                                    7th Floor
                               Arlington, VA 22203
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                                 (703) 236-3100
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On April 5, 2001, Global TeleSystems, Inc. (the "Company") announced
its results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2000. The press release
announcing the results is included as an exhibit to this report.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

          (c)     Exhibits

99.1     Press release issued by Global TeleSystems, Inc.
         on April 5, 2001.


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                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, Global TeleSystems, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS, INC.


Date:    April 6, 2001                 By:  /s/ Grier C. Raclin
                                          ---------------------
                                       Name:  Grier C. Raclin
                                       Title: Executive Vice President; Chief
                                       Administrative Officer; General Counsel;
                                       and Secretary
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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
   No.            Description
- --------          --------------

99.1              Press release issued by Global TeleSystems, Inc. on
                  April 5, 2001.