<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
         This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated  financial  statements  of  Telephone and  Data Systems, Inc. as of
September 30, 1999,  and  is  qualified  in  its  entirety by reference to  such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          80,131
<SECURITIES>                                   649,137
<RECEIVABLES>                                  312,938
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,622
<INVENTORY>                                     35,107
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               446,560
<PP&E>                                       3,396,538
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,283,024
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,356,158
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          483,674
<BONDS>                                      1,281,090
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     21,860
<COMMON>                                           621
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,430,767
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,356,158
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,462,848
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,155,115
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (300,434)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              95,017
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                513,150
<INCOME-TAX>                                   210,475
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            302,675
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (84,190)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   218,485
<EPS-BASIC>                                     3.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.47