<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED AS PART OF 360 COMMUNICATIONS' FIRST QUARTER 10Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001003959 <NAME> 360 COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 7,123 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 99,223 <ALLOWANCES> 6,187 <INVENTORY> 26,590 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 214,451 <PP&E> 1,782,963 <DEPRECIATION> 603,721 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,936,234 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 293,743 <BONDS> 1,845,400 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,233 <OTHER-SE> 554,173 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,936,234 <SALES> 13,260 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 354,835 <CGS> 28,434 <TOTAL-COSTS> 40,792 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 67,706 <LOSS-PROVISION> 9,050 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 33,259 <INCOME-PRETAX> 79,648 <INCOME-TAX> 35,528 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 44,120 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 44,120 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.36 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.36