Exhibit 5.1


April 11, 2003




Telaxis Communications Corporation
8000 Lee Highway
Falls Church, Virginia  22042

         Re:      Young Design, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive 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 1,778,750
shares (the "Shares") of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable
upon exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Young Design, Inc. 2002
Stock Incentive 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 granted
pursuant to the Plan will be issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and
that the purchase price of the 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 duly granted pursuant to
the Plan and against the receipt of the purchase price 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.

                                       10




     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 LLP


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