<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial  information extracted from BTI Telecom
Corp.'s  financial  statements  for the  quarter  ended  March  31,  1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                           58,880
<SECURITIES>                                          0   
<RECEIVABLES>                                    33,552   
<ALLOWANCES>                                      5,000   
<INVENTORY>                                         297   
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                115,208   
<PP&E>                                           73,723   
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (21,006)  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  217,325   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            42,481   
<BONDS>                                         250,000   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0   
<PREFERRED>                                           0   
<COMMON>                                             37
<OTHER-SE>                                      (77,973)  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    217,325   
<SALES>                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 55,085   
<CGS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    58,942   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (1,882)  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                6,396   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (8,371)  
<INCOME-TAX>                                          0   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (8,371)  
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0   
<CHANGES>                                             0   
<NET-INCOME>                                     (8,371)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (0.08)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (0.08)