<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
   This schedule contains summary financial  information extracted from Electric
   Lightwave,  Inc.'s  Consolidated  Financial  Statements for the periods ended
   June 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
   statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998    
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1998    
<PERIOD-END>                                   Jun-30-1998    
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1              
<CASH>                                         12,638         
<SECURITIES>                                   0              
<RECEIVABLES>                                  10,859         
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0              
<INVENTORY>                                    0              
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               24,390         
<PP&E>                                         396,080        
<DEPRECIATION>                                 31,887        
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 395,003        
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          49,803         
<BONDS>                                        146,656              
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0              
<PREFERRED>                                    0              
<COMMON>                                       497            
<OTHER-SE>                                     185,437        
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   395,003        
<SALES>                                        0         
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               41,500         
<CGS>                                          0              
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  19,072         
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               34,062         
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0              
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,601          
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (32,184)       
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (5,471)        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (26,713)       
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0              
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0              
<CHANGES>                                      2,817          
<NET-INCOME>                                   (29,530)       
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (.59)          
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.59)