<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
   This schedule contains summary financial  information extracted from Electric
Lightwave,  Inc.'s Consolidated  Financial Statements for the three months ended
March 31, 1998 and 1997,  the six months  ended June 30,  1997,  the nine months
ended  September 30, 1997,  and the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS          6-MOS          9-MOS          12-MOS         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1997    Dec-31-1997    Dec-31-1997    Dec-31-1997    Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1997    Jan-01-1997    Jan-01-1997    Jan-01-1997    Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1997    Jun-30-1997    Sep-30-1997    Dec-31-1997    Mar-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1              1              1              1              1             
<CASH>                                         1,213          1,109          1,147          26,531         21,849        
<SECURITIES>                                   0              0              0              0              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  6,392          7,531          10,272         23,826         19,966
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0              0              0              3,569          0
<INVENTORY>                                    0              0              0              0              0            
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               8,231          9,044          11,725         47,632         43,434
<PP&E>                                         190,818        235,953        249,499        316,109        352,062   
<DEPRECIATION>                                 19,680         20,703         23,144         25,791         28,247
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 188,795        233,835        248,570        359,962        373,374
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          19,785         28,900         19,459         57,419         45,417
<BONDS>                                        10,843         10,664         10,374         70,511         112,732
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0              0              0              0              0            
<PREFERRED>                                    0              0              0              0              0
<COMMON>                                       412            412            412            497            497
<OTHER-SE>                                     (1,288)        (11,242)       (17,161)       212,817        199,116
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   188,795        233,835        248,570        359,962        373,374
<SALES>                                        0              0              0              0              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               10,519         24,765         41,843         61,084         20,057
<CGS>                                          0              0              0              0              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  4,930          11,946         19,287         29,546         9,212
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               9,937          20,363         31,076         40,561         15,681
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0              0              0              0              0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             91             302            513            1,166          911
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (10,162)       (20,116)       (26,035)       (35,261)       (14,404)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0              0              0              (1,316)        (2,449)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (10,162)       (20,116)       (26,035)       (33,945)       (11,955)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0              0              0              0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0              0              0              0              0
<CHANGES>                                      0              0              0              0              2,817
<NET-INCOME>                                   (10,162)       (20,116)       (26,035)       (33,945)       (14,772)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (.24)          (.48)          (.62)          (.80)          (.30)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.24)          (.48)          (.62)          (.80)          (.30)