EXHIBIT 5



                                                                  (602) 528-4000


                                 March 13, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

           RE:       WAVETECH, INC.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          This firm is counsel for Wavetech, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"),  with respect to the sale of up to 4,600,000 shares of the Company's
$.001 par value  Common Stock (the "Common  Stock"),  pursuant to the  Wavetech,
Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which are the subject of a Form S-8
Registration  Statement  filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In
such capacity,  we are familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
of the  Company,  as well as  resolutions  adopted  by its  Board  of  Directors
authorizing  the Plan and the issuance  and sale of Common  Stock in  accordance
therewith.  In addition,  we have examined such  documents and  undertaken  such
further  inquiry as we consider  necessary  for rendering the opinions set forth
below:

          Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

          1.   The Company is a corporation  duly organized and validly existing
               under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

          2.   The Common  Stock when issued,  will be duly and validly  issued,
               fully paid and nonassessable.



Securities and Exchange Commission
March 13, 1997
Page 2



          We hereby  consent  to filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and any amendments  thereto which
may be filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and to filing with
state  regulatory  agencies  in  such  states  as may  require  such  filing  in
connection with the  registration of the Common Stock for offer and sale in such
states.

                             Very truly yours,

                             /s/  SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                  SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.