Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
                             Two Renaissance Square
                       40 North Central Avenue, Suite 2700
                             Phoenix, Arizona 85004
                            Telephone: (602) 528-4000
                            Facsimile: (602) 253-8129

                                  June 14, 2000

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

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This  firm is  counsel  for  Wavetech  International,  Inc.,  a  Nevada
corporation  (the  "Company").  As such, we are familiar with the Certificate of
Incorporation,  as amended,  and the Bylaws, as amended, of the Company, as well
as resolutions  adopted by its Board of Directors  authorizing  the issuance and
sale of 1,159,393  shares of the  Company's  common  stock,  par value $.001 per
share (the "Common  Stock"),  including  956,022 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of 1,000  outstanding  shares of Series B Convertible  Preferred
Stock (the  "Series B  Preferred  Stock")  and  203,371  shares of Common  Stock
issuable upon exercise of outstanding  Warrants (the "Warrants"),  which are the
subject of a Registration  Statement on Form S-2 (the "Registration  Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1993 Act").

         We also have examined all instruments,  documents, and records which we
deemed  relevant  and  necessary  for  the  basis  of  our  opinion  hereinafter
expressed. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness and authority of
all  signatures  and  the  authenticity  of  all  documents  submitted  to us as
originals and the  conformity to the originals of all documents  submitted to us
as copies.

         Based on such examination,  we are of the opinion that, upon conversion
of the Series A Preferred  Stock,  the 1,159,393  shares of Common  Stock,  when
issued in compliance with the Certificate of Designations,  Rights,  Preferences
and Limitations of the Series B Preferred Stock,  will be validly issued,  fully
paid  and   nonassessable,   and  that  upon  receipt  by  the  Company  of  the
consideration  provided for upon exercise of the Warrants, the 203,371 shares of
Common  Stock,  when issued in  compliance  with the  Warrants,  will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We  acknowledge  that we are  referred  to  under  the  heading  "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus  which is part of the  Registration  Statement and we
hereby consent to the use of our name in such Registration Statement. We further
consent  to the  filing  of this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5.1 to the  Registration
Statement and with the 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.

                                        Respectfully Submitted,

                                        /s/ Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

                                        SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.