<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WORLDCOM, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 93,119 <SECURITIES> 746 <RECEIVABLES> 1,837,351 <ALLOWANCES> 222,862 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,182,838 <PP&E> 8,741,814 <DEPRECIATION> 1,010,087 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,915,377 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,310,070 <BONDS> 8,331,536 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 123 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10,290 <OTHER-SE> 14,812,046 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,915,377 <SALES> 2,349,967 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,349,967 <CGS> 1,146,949 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,422,150 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (12,247) <LOSS-PROVISION> 24,200 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 102,248 <INCOME-PRETAX> (162,184) <INCOME-TAX> 118,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (280,384) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (128,731) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (415,717) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.41) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.41)