EXHIBIT 23.1
 
              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
  We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts" and to the use of our reports dated March 13,
1998, except for Note 13, as to which the date is April 28, 1998, in the
Registration Statement (Form S-1) and related Prospectus of Metawave
Communications Corporation for the registration of 5,000,000 shares of its
common stock.
 
                                          Ernst & Young LLP
 
Seattle, Washington
July 22, 1998