<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MCI WORLDCOM INC.'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERNCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 944 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,660 <PP&E> 23,777 <DEPRECIATION> (1,477) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 82,278 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,143 <BONDS> 16,032 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 750 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 18 <OTHER-SE> 44,246 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 82,278 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 8,661 <CGS> 4,141 <TOTAL-COSTS> 10,869 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (36) <LOSS-PROVISION> 115 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 351 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,523) <INCOME-TAX> 462 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,985) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 129 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,141) <EPS-PRIMARY> (2.77) <EPS-DILUTED> (2.77)