
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                          5
<LEGEND>
                                   THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
                                   FROM THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED
                                   AS PART OF 360'S 1996 10K
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0001003959
<NAME>                             360  COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1000

<S>                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           2,554
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  108,213
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,730
<INVENTORY>                                     35,908
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               228,843
<PP&E>                                       1,499,407
<DEPRECIATION>                                 415,981
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,812,069
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          350,848
<BONDS>                                      1,699,778
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,233
<OTHER-SE>                                     461,267
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,812,069
<SALES>                                         43,146
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,095,872
<CGS>                                          104,327
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   99,745
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               202,617
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                23,952
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             106,364
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                117,348
<INCOME-TAX>                                    57,829
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             59,519
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,519
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0.50


</TABLE>
