Exhibit 5


                     [Letterhead of Partridge, Snow & Hahn]



                                February 4, 1997




The WideCom Group Inc.
55 City Centre Drive, Suite #500
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada  L5B 1M3

                  Re:    The WideCom Group Inc.
                         Securities and Exchange Commission
                         Registration Statement on Form F-3

Gentlemen:

      As  counsel  to The  WideCom  Group  Inc.,  an  Ontario  corporation  (the
"Company"),  we have assisted in the  preparation of the Company's  Registration
Statement  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on Form F-3 (the
"Registration Statement").

      In this  connection  we have  reviewed  the  Registration  Statement,  the
Prospectus  included  as  part  of the  Registration  Statement,  the  Company's
articles of incorporation and by-laws,  as amended,  resolutions of its Board of
Directors  and  shareholders,  records  relating to the issuance and sale of the
Company's securities as described in the Registration Statement,  and such other
documents as we have deemed  appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion.
Capitalized terms used in this opinion that are not otherwise defined shall have
the same meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Statement.

      In making our review, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on
original and  certified  documents,  the  conformity  to original and  certified
documents of all copies submitted to us as confirmed, photostat or other copies,
the legal capacity of all natural persons executing such documents,  instruments
and  other  papers,  the  due  authorization,  execution  and  delivery  of such
documents,  instruments and other papers by each of the entities, other than the
Company, which has executed the same and that each of such entities,  other than
the  Company,  has the power to enter into and  perform  all of its  obligations
thereunder. As to matters of facts which have not been independently established
by us, we have relied upon  representations  of Suneet S. Tuli,  Executive  Vice
President, Secretary and a director of the Company.

      In giving this opinion,  we have relied upon the opinion of Weir & Foulds,
Ontario  counsel to the Company,  regarding  all aspects of Ontario and Canadian
law.

      Based upon our review,  it is our  opinion  that the Shares have been duly
authorized for issuance under the laws of Ontario,  and, when issued,  delivered
and  paid for will be  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  non-assessable  by the
Company,  and that no personal  liability attaches or will attach to the holders
of the shares by reason of the ownership thereof.

      We consent to the  references to our firm in the  Registration  Statement,
and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement.
The  foregoing  consent,  however,  shall not be deemed to  constitute a consent
under Section 7 of the Securities  Act of 1933,  since we have not certified any
part of the  Registration  Statement.  This opinion may also be delivered to the
National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc., and the Boston Stock Exchange
with the same  meaning and  validity as if  addressed  to each of such  entities
directly.

                                        Yours very truly,


                                        /s/  Partridge, Snow & Hahn
                                        ---------------------------------------