<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ICG COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                              429,418
<SECURITIES>                         41,000
<RECEIVABLES>                       139,394
<ALLOWANCES>                         14,377
<INVENTORY>                           3,259
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    608,916
<PP&E>                              963,649
<DEPRECIATION>                      158,993
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,704,157
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               156,532
<BONDS>                           1,613,526
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               454,192
<PREFERRED>                            0<F1>
<COMMON>                                596
<OTHER-SE>                         (520,689)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       1,704,157
<SALES>                                0<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    275,991
<CGS>                                  0<F1>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       187,964
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    194,475
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      8,538
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  121,974
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    (210,307)
<INCOME-TAX>                           0<F1>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                (251,081)
<DISCONTINUED>                      (48,174)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0<F1>
<CHANGES>                              0<F1>
<NET-INCOME>                       (299,255)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         (6.66)
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>THIS VALUE IS NOT APPLICABLE.
</FN>