<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                        1
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<RECEIVABLES>                                  1,753,198  
<ALLOWANCES>                                    (711,711) 
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<PP&E>                                         2,981,113  
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (685,039) 
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0  
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<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   7,057,303  
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<CGS>                                                  0  
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<NET-INCOME>                                     232,266  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.57  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.55