Exhibit 5.1

November 14, 2001





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


               Re: Telaxis Communications Corporation 1997 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 112,500
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 1997 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, the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
File No. 333-30450, filed by the Company with the SEC on February 15, 2000, 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.

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               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. 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



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