<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5

<S>                             <C>                        <C>                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                     3-MOS                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1998                DEC-31-1998                DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1998                JAN-01-1998                JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1998                MAR-01-1998                MAR-01-1999
<CASH>                                 25,597,461                          0                 10,392,752
<SECURITIES>                                    0                          0                 15,884,601
<RECEIVABLES>                          19,570,031                          0                 20,750,560
<ALLOWANCES>                          (1,908,811)                          0                (2,932,559)
<INVENTORY>                             6,826,732                          0                  9,026,681
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                       73,019,623                          0                 79,950,044
<PP&E>                                 28,139,460                          0                 44,784,898
<DEPRECIATION>                        (4,882,832)                          0                (8,906,829)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        185,655,629                          0                199,883,846
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  44,519,887                          0                 57,484,079
<BONDS>                               168,267,797                          0                174,937,464
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                          0                 19,300,000
<PREFERRED>                                     0                          0                          0
<COMMON>                               27,486,554                          0                 27,806,290
<OTHER-SE>                           (48,835,438)                          0               (68,486,452)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          185,655,629                          0                199,883,846
<SALES>                                         0                  4,715,792                 16,397,980
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                0                  6,522,865                 31,708,556
<CGS>                                           0                  4,396,718                 12,260,996
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   0                  4,798,024                 20,742,853
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                0                  6,824,284                 31,518,396
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0                    144,180                  (148,004)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              0                  5,830,022                  6,149,357
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 0                (5,110,666)               (20,128,843)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    0                          0                          0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             0                (5,110,666)               (20,128,843)
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                          0                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                          0                          0
<CHANGES>                                       0                          0                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                    0                (5,110,666)               (20,128,843)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0                     (0.19)                     (0.72)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   0                     (0.19)                     (0.72)


</TABLE>