EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
    We consent to the inclusion in this registration statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-52247) of our report dated February 20, 1998, except for the information
presented in Note 9 to the financial statements for which the dates are April 8,
1998, April 13, 1998, May 4, 1998 and July 24, 1998, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements of Pathnet, Inc. and its subsidiary as of
December 31, 1996 and 1997, and for the period August 25, 1995 (date of
inception) to December 31, 1995, the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 and
the period August 25, 1995 (date of inception) to December 31, 1997. We also
consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Experts" and "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data".
 
                                          /s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
 
McLean, Virginia
August 7, 1998