<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
RESPECTIVE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF SEP-30-1997 JUN-30-1997 AND
DEC-31-1996 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
RESPECTIVE PERIODS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001015126
<NAME> NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS INC.
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             JUN-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         144,088                 198,763                  76,807
<SECURITIES>                                    76,525                  76,525                  47,713
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,088                   9,790                   7,008
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               273,432                 327,175                 171,905
<PP&E>                                         214,320                 175,630                 106,153
<DEPRECIATION>                                  18,279                  14,380                   8,369
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 596,240                 614,210                 390,683
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           45,857                  33,333                  34,678
<BONDS>                                        350,000                 350,000                 350,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          302,151                 291,353                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        83,953                  82,290                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   (203,568)               (156,316)                (18,654)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   596,240                 614,210                 390,683
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                13,390                  11,601                  25,686
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   39,097                  32,614                  76,701
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,746                  10,902                  30,876
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (31,585)                (26,348)                (71,101)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (31,585)                (26,348)                (71,101)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (31,585)                (26,348)                (71,101)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.05)<F1>              (0.94)<F1>              (1.81)<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (1.05)<F1>              (0.94)<F1>              (1.81)<F1>
<FN>
<F1>REFLECTS THE ADOPTION OF FAS 128, A NEW STANDARD OF COMPUTING AND PRESENTING
BOTH BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE, AND SAB 98 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
1997.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>