Exhibit 5.1


July 20, 2001


Telaxis Communications Corporation
20 Industrial Drive East
South Deerfield, Massachusetts  01373

         Re: Telaxis Communications Corporation 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan

         We are familiar with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Telaxis Communications Corporation, a
Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), relating to the offering by the Company of up to 1,500,000
shares (the "Shares") of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable
upon exercise of stock options and pursuant to other awards granted or to be
granted pursuant to the Telaxis Communications Corporation 2001 Nonqualified
Stock Plan (the "Plan").

         In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined and relied
on the articles of organization of the Company, as amended to date, the by-laws
of the Company, as amended to date, the records of meetings and consents of the
Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company provided to us by the
Company, the Registration Statement and the Plan.

         In addition, we have examined and relied on the originals or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate
records of the Company and such other instruments and other certificates of
public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other
persons, and we have made such examination of law, as we have deemed appropriate
as a basis for the opinion expressed below. This opinion is limited solely to
the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as applied by courts located in
Massachusetts.

         We assume that all Shares to be issued upon exercise of options or
pursuant to other awards granted or to be granted pursuant to the Plan will be
issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and that the purchase price of
the Shares, or the value of other consideration received or to be received by
the Company for the award of Shares, will be greater than or equal to the par
value per share of the Shares.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the
Shares, when issued and delivered upon the exercise of options or pursuant to
other awards duly granted pursuant to the Plan and against the receipt of the
purchase price or other consideration therefor, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.





         This opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale
of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.

         Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set
forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the reference to our firm under
the caption, "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel." In giving such consent,
we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission.

                                           FOLEY HOAG & ELIOT LLP


                                           By: /s/ John D. Hancock
                                               --------------------
                                               a Partner