<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD
QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY  BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>             0000876279            
<NAME>            WORLD ACCESS, INC.            
<MULTIPLIER>                              1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1996              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                          JUL-01-1996              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                            SEP-30-1996              SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                  785                      785            
<SECURITIES>                            0                        0                         
<RECEIVABLES>                           31,103                   31,103        
<ALLOWANCES>                            318                      318
<INVENTORY>                             11,113                   11,113          
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        43,457                   43,457        
<PP&E>                                  8,241                    8,241           
<DEPRECIATION>                          5,671                    5,671           
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          56,880                   56,880              
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   7,869                    7,869            
<BONDS>                                 0                        0             
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                        0            
<PREFERRED>                             0                        0           
<COMMON>                                156                      156                    
<OTHER-SE>                              45,554                   45,554          
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            56,880                   56,880        
<SALES>                                 12,419                   36,376       
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                        12,419                   36,376            
<CGS>                                   8,402                    26,170      
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           8,402                    26,170      
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        2,064                    5,351      
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0                        0             
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      101                      309         
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         1,877                    4,729          
<INCOME-TAX>                            234                      458         
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     1,643                    4,271          
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                        0           
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                        0        
<CHANGES>                               0                        0            
<NET-INCOME>                            1,643                    4,271              
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .12                      .31        
<EPS-DILUTED>                           .12                      .31         
        


</TABLE>