<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED AS PART OF 360 COMMUNICATIONS' THIRD QUARTER 10Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001003959 <NAME> 360 COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 5,772 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 106,302 <ALLOWANCES> 7,300 <INVENTORY> 32,314 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 227,227 <PP&E> 1,627,781 <DEPRECIATION> 521,466 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,962,937 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 292,772 <BONDS> 1,849,643 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,233 <OTHER-SE> 498,853 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,962,937 <SALES> 36,568 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 994,617 <CGS> 81,329 <TOTAL-COSTS> 118,899 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 188,920 <LOSS-PROVISION> 22,797 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 97,603 <INCOME-PRETAX> 114,539 <INCOME-TAX> 54,408 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 60,131 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 60,131 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.49