<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000732718
<NAME> U S WEST, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                             201                     164                     244                     259
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    2,113                   2,059                   2,104                   2,107
<ALLOWANCES>                                       125                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                        159                     171                     218                     216
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 3,112                   2,979                   3,159                   3,133
<PP&E>                                          37,756                  38,152                  38,547                  39,149
<DEPRECIATION>                                  19,475                  19,944                  20,261                  20,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  40,855                  40,333                  40,366                  40,554
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            6,074                   5,813                   5,661                   6,565
<BONDS>                                         14,300                  14,260                  14,135                  13,422
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,131                   1,131                   1,180                   1,180
<PREFERRED>                                        920                     921                     921                     921
<COMMON>                                        10,741                  10,739                  10,776                  10,800
<OTHER-SE>                                       (112)                   (175)                   (131)                   (199)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    40,855                  40,333                  40,366                  40,554
<SALES>                                         12,911                   3,766                   7,553                  11,471
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                12,911                   3,766                   7,553                  11,471
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   10,056                   2,944                   5,924                   9,058
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 612                     278                     544                     823
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,840                     400                     815                   1,148
<INCOME-TAX>                                       696                     170                     350                     485
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,144                     230                     465                     663
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       3                      (3)
<CHANGES>                                           34                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,178                     230                     468                     660
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.62<F1>                     .70<F1>                    1.39<F1>
                    2.08<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.58<F2>                     .70<F2>                    1.38<F2>
                    2.06<F2>
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS BASIC EPS AND HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SFAS NO.128.
<F2>REPRESENTS DILUTED EPS AND HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SFAS NO.128.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>