<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WORLDCOM, INC. (F/K/A LDDS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995 <CASH> 10,877 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 558,250 <ALLOWANCES> 48,458 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 652,271 <PP&E> 2,006,637 <DEPRECIATION> 438,040 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,551,910 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 872,640 <BONDS> 3,392,357 <COMMON> 1,931 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 12 <OTHER-SE> 2,082,543 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 6,551,910 <SALES> 2,693,314 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,693,314 <CGS> 1,480,696 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,202,210 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (7,125) <LOSS-PROVISION> 29,129 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 189,392 <INCOME-PRETAX> 308,837 <INCOME-TAX> 120,446 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 188,391 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 155,705 <EPS-PRIMARY> .97 <EPS-DILUTED> .96