<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