<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