<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001071645 <NAME> WORLD ACCESS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 41,112 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 82,217 <ALLOWANCES> 7,530 <INVENTORY> 53,711 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 222,984 <PP&E> 69,133 <DEPRECIATION> 9,247 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 605,974 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 95,297 <BONDS> 115,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 448 <OTHER-SE> 365,193 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 605,974 <SALES> 57,867 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 143,479 <CGS> 31,942 <TOTAL-COSTS> 114,369 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 21,379 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,628 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,526 <INCOME-TAX> 3,405 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,121 <DISCONTINUED> 32 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,153 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.06