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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 EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                             -----------------------


                             Date of Report (Date of
                   Earliest event reported): January 14, 1999

                                   OPTEL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                          95-4495524
- ---------------------------------               ------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification
of incorporation or organization)                            Number)

                                    333-24881
                            -----------------------
                            (Commission File Number)

           1111 West Mockingbird Lane, Suite 1000, Dallas, Texas 75247
           -----------------------------------------------------------
           (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (214) 634-3800

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ITEM 5.  OTHER MATERIALLY IMPORTANT EVENTS

         On January 14, 1999, the Registrant issued the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit "A" announcing Registrant's first quarter fiscal 1999 results.

ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

         Press Release, dated January 14, 1999.


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                                    SIGNATURE

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

Date:         January 14, 1999

                                OpTel, Inc.
                                (Registrant)


                                By: /s/ MICHAEL E. KATZENSTEIN
                                    --------------------------------
                                    Name:  Michael E. Katzenstein
                                    Title:   Vice President and General Counsel

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
  No.                    Description                                   
- -------                  -----------                                   
                                                                 
20                       Press Release, dated January 14, 1999