<PAGE>


     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2000
                                                          Registration NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              VIA NET.WORKS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                            84-1412512
(State or other jurisdiction of                   (IRS Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                     Number)

                      12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 110
                               Reston, VA  20190
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

          VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option
                           and Restricted Stock Plan
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                Matt S. Nydell
                 Vice President, General Counsel And Secretary
                              VIA NET.WORKS, INC.
                      12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 110
                               Reston, VA  20190
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                (703) 464-0300
        (Telephone  number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   Copy to:
                            Steven A. Museles, Esq.
                            HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.
                          555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
                           Washington, DC 20004-1109
                                (202) 637-5600

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                            Proposed maximum     Proposed maximum
                                                          Amount to be       offering price    aggregate offering       Amount of
       Title of securities to be registered                 registered       per share (1)         price (1)        registration fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>               <C>                <C>                  <C>
Common stock ($.001 par value) issuable under the            9,038,411        $1.00 to $21.63     $93,898,063.32         $24,789.09
 Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted
 Stock Plan
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee.  The offering price per share and the aggregate offering
     price are based upon (a) the weighted average exercise price for shares
     subject to outstanding options previously granted under the VIA NET.WORKS,
     Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan in
     accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 and (b) the
     average of the high and low prices of the registrant's common stock as
     reported on the Nasdaq National Market on May 26, 2000 in accordance with
     Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act for shares issuable pursuant to the
     VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted
     Stock Plan and not subject to outstanding options.  The following chart
     illustrates the calculation of the number of shares of common stock to be
     registered, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the
     registration fee:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Type of shares                         Number of shares    Offering price per share   Aggregate offering price
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>                 <C>                        <C>
Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options               6,704,909         $1.00 to $21.63 (1)(a)         $63,562,537.32
under the Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and
Restricted Stock Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Amended             2,333,502         $ 13.00 (1) (b)                $30,335,526.00
and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                         9,038,411                                        $93,898,063.32

================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                    PART I

             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

  The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or
given to employees participating in VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated
1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan") as specified by Rule
428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.  In accordance with the
instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission either as part of this registration statement
or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated
under the Securities Act.  These documents and the documents incorporated by
reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken
together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act.

                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

       VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. ("VIA") hereby incorporates by reference into this
registration statement the following documents filed with the Commission:

            (a)  VIA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
                 31, 1999;

            (b)  All reports filed by VIA with the Commission under Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since
                 December 31, 1999; and

            (c)  The description of VIA's common stock, $.001 par value per
                 share, incorporated by reference into VIA's registration
                 statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on February 8,
                 2000 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which
                 incorporates by reference the description of VIA's common stock
                 from VIA's registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
                 91615) filed with the Commission on February 9, 2000.

       All documents subsequently filed by VIA pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been
sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

       Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such prior statement.  The documents required to be so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this
registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.

       To the extent that any proxy statement is incorporated by reference
herein, such incorporation shall not include any information contained in such
proxy statement which is not, pursuant to the Commission's rules, deemed to be
"filed" with the Commission or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         A description of VIA's common stock is incorporated by reference under
         Item 3.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

                                       1
<PAGE>

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors And Officers

       VIA's certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for the
indemnification of VIA's directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized
by, and subject to the conditions set forth in, the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, or DGCL, except that VIA will indemnify a director or
officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the
person only if the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by VIA's Board of
Directors. The indemnification provided under the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws includes the right to be paid by VIA the expenses (including
attorneys' fees) in advance of any proceeding for which indemnification may be
had in advance of its final disposition, provided that the payment of such
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a director or officer in
advance of the final disposition of a proceeding may be made only upon delivery
to VIA of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay all
amounts so paid in advance if it is ultimately determined that the director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified. According to the bylaws, if a claim
for indemnification is not paid by VIA within 60 days after a written claim has
been received by VIA, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring an action
against VIA to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant will be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting the action.

       As permitted by the DGCL, VIA's certificate of incorporation provides
that directors of VIA shall not be liable to VIA or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for
liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to VIA or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the DGCL, relating to unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchase
or redemption or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. As a result of this provision, VIA and its
stockholders may be unable to obtain monetary damages from a director for breach
of his or her duty of care.

       Under the bylaws, VIA has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
VIA, or is or was serving at the request of VIA as a director, officer,
employee, partner (limited or general) or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person or incurred by the
person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person's status as such, and
related expenses, whether or not VIA would have the power to indemnify the
person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL. VIA has
purchased director and officer liability insurance on behalf of its directors
and officers.

       Additionally, VIA has entered into indemnification agreements with
certain of its directors and officers, which may, in some cases, be broader than
the specific indemnification provisions contained under applicable law.  The
indemnification agreements may require VIA, among other things, to indemnify
such officers and directors against liabilities that arise by reason of their
status or service as its directors or officers, to reimburse or advance the
expenses they may incur as a result of threatened claims or proceedings brought
against them, and to cover them under VIA's directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies to the maximum extent that insurance coverage is maintained.

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

           Not applicable.

Item 8.    Exhibits.

         Exhibit
          Number                                 Description
          ------                                 -----------

            5.1        Opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding the legality
                       of the securities being registered.

           23.1        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

           23.2        The consent of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included as part
                       of Exhibit 5.1).

           24.1        Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                       registration statement).

                                       2
<PAGE>

Item 9.    Undertakings.

           (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                     being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                     statement:

                     (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section
                           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                     (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                           arising after the effective date of the registration
                           statement (or the most recent post-effective
                           amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                           aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                           information set forth in the registration statement.
                           Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
                           decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
                           total dollar value of securities offered would not
                           exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
                           from the low or high and of the estimated maximum
                           offering range may be reflected in the form of the
                           prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                           424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
                           and price represent no more than 20 percent change in
                           the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
                           "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                           effective registration statement;

                     (iii) To include any material information with respect to
                           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
                           the registration statement or any material change to
                           such information in the registration statement;

                provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
                not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, S-8 or
                Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-
                effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
                reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
                registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
                Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this
                registration statement.

                (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
                     the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                     shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
                     to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                     securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
                     bona fide offering thereof.

                (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                     amendment any of the securities being registered which
                     remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

           (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

           (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
therefore is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than for the payment by the registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of the issue.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, VIA
NET.WORKS, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the County of Fairfax, Commonwealth of Virginia, as of
May 31, 2000.



                                          VIA NET.WORKS, Inc.


                                          By:/s/ David M. D'Ottavio
                                             --------------------------------
                                             David M. D'Ottavio
                                             Chief Executive Officer and
                                              Chairman of the Board of Directors

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

       Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David
M. D'Ottavio and Catherine A. Graham, and each of them, his or her true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, from such person and in each person's name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement or any registration statement
relating to this registration statement under Rule 462 under the Securities Act
of 1933 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of May 31, 2000.

          Signature                                      Title
          ---------                                      -----

/s/ David M. D'Ottavio
--------------------------
David M. D'Ottavio                 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
                                   Board of Directors
                                   (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Michael J. Simmons
--------------------------
Michael J. Simmons                 President


/s/ Catherine A. Graham
--------------------------
Catherine A. Graham                Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                   Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                   Officer)


/s/ William A. Johnston
--------------------------
William A. Johnston                Director

<PAGE>

/s/ Gabriel Battista
---------------------------
Gabriel Battista                              Director


/s/ Edward D. Breen
---------------------------
Edward D. Breen                               Director


/s/ Stephen J. Eley
---------------------------
Stephen J. Eley                               Director


/s/ William J. Elsner
---------------------------
William J. Elsner                             Director


/s/ Adam Goldman
---------------------------
Adam Goldman                                  Director


/s/ Mark J. Masiello
---------------------------
Mark J. Masiello                              Director


/s/ John G. Puente
---------------------------
John G. Puente                                Director


/s/ Erik M. Torgerson
---------------------------
Erik M. Torgerson                             Director
<PAGE>

                               Index To Exhibits

 Exhibit
 Number                         Description
 ------                         -----------

 5.1                Opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding the legality of
                    the securities being registered.

23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2                The consent of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included as part of
                    Exhibit 5.1).

24.1                Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                    registration statement).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 23345}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VIA NET WORKS INC", "cik": "0001098402", "assigned-sic": "7370", "irs-number": "841412512"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-38392", "film-number": "648196"}, "business-address": {"street1": "12100 SUNSET HILLS RD", "street2": "SUITE 110", "city": "RESTON", "state": "VA", "zip": "20190", "phone": "7034640300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "12100 SUNSET HILLS RD", "street2": "SUITE 110", "city": "RESTON", "state": "VA", "zip": "20190"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2000
                                                          Registration NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              VIA NET.WORKS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                            84-1412512
(State or other jurisdiction of                   (IRS Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                     Number)

                      12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 110
                               Reston, VA  20190
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

          VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option
                           and Restricted Stock Plan
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                Matt S. Nydell
                 Vice President, General Counsel And Secretary
                              VIA NET.WORKS, INC.
                      12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 110
                               Reston, VA  20190
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                (703) 464-0300
        (Telephone  number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   Copy to:
                            Steven A. Museles, Esq.
                            HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.
                          555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
                           Washington, DC 20004-1109
                                (202) 637-5600
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                            Proposed maximum     Proposed maximum
                                                          Amount to be       offering price    aggregate offering       Amount of
       Title of securities to be registered                 registered       per share (1)         price (1)        registration fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common stock ($.001 par value) issuable under the            9,038,411        $1.00 to $21.63     $93,898,063.32         $24,789.09
 Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted
 Stock Plan
==================================================================================================================================
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee.  The offering price per share and the aggregate offering
     price are based upon (a) the weighted average exercise price for shares
     subject to outstanding options previously granted under the VIA NET.WORKS,
     Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan in
     accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 and (b) the
     average of the high and low prices of the registrant's common stock as
     reported on the Nasdaq National Market on May 26, 2000 in accordance with
     Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act for shares issuable pursuant to the
     VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted
     Stock Plan and not subject to outstanding options.  The following chart
     illustrates the calculation of the number of shares of common stock to be
     registered, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the
     registration fee:
Type of shares                         Number of shares    Offering price per share   Aggregate offering price
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options               6,704,909         $1.00 to $21.63 (1)(a)         $63,562,537.32
under the Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option and
Restricted Stock Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Amended             2,333,502         $ 13.00 (1) (b)                $30,335,526.00
and Restated 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                         9,038,411                                        $93,898,063.32

================================================================================================================================
PART I

             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

  The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or
given to employees participating in VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. Amended and Restated
1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan") as specified by Rule
428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.  In accordance with the
instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission either as part of this registration statement
or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated
under the Securities Act.  These documents and the documents incorporated by
reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken
together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act.

                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

       VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. ("VIA") hereby incorporates by reference into this
registration statement the following documents filed with the Commission:

            (a)  VIA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
                 31, 1999;

            (b)  All reports filed by VIA with the Commission under Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since
                 December 31, 1999; and

            (c)  The description of VIA's common stock, $.001 par value per
                 share, incorporated by reference into VIA's registration
                 statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on February 8,
                 2000 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which
                 incorporates by reference the description of VIA's common stock
                 from VIA's registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
                 91615) filed with the Commission on February 9, 2000.

       All documents subsequently filed by VIA pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been
sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

       Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such prior statement.  The documents required to be so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this
registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.

       To the extent that any proxy statement is incorporated by reference
herein, such incorporation shall not include any information contained in such
proxy statement which is not, pursuant to the Commission's rules, deemed to be
"filed" with the Commission or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         A description of VIA's common stock is incorporated by reference under
         Item 3.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

                                       1
Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors And Officers

       VIA's certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for the
indemnification of VIA's directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized
by, and subject to the conditions set forth in, the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, or DGCL, except that VIA will indemnify a director or
officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the
person only if the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by VIA's Board of
Directors. The indemnification provided under the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws includes the right to be paid by VIA the expenses (including
attorneys' fees) in advance of any proceeding for which indemnification may be
had in advance of its final disposition, provided that the payment of such
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a director or officer in
advance of the final disposition of a proceeding may be made only upon delivery
to VIA of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay all
amounts so paid in advance if it is ultimately determined that the director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified. According to the bylaws, if a claim
for indemnification is not paid by VIA within 60 days after a written claim has
been received by VIA, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring an action
against VIA to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant will be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting the action.

       As permitted by the DGCL, VIA's certificate of incorporation provides
that directors of VIA shall not be liable to VIA or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for
liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to VIA or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the DGCL, relating to unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchase
or redemption or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. As a result of this provision, VIA and its
stockholders may be unable to obtain monetary damages from a director for breach
of his or her duty of care.

       Under the bylaws, VIA has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
VIA, or is or was serving at the request of VIA as a director, officer,
employee, partner (limited or general) or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person or incurred by the
person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person's status as such, and
related expenses, whether or not VIA would have the power to indemnify the
person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL. VIA has
purchased director and officer liability insurance on behalf of its directors
and officers.

       Additionally, VIA has entered into indemnification agreements with
certain of its directors and officers, which may, in some cases, be broader than
the specific indemnification provisions contained under applicable law.  The
indemnification agreements may require VIA, among other things, to indemnify
such officers and directors against liabilities that arise by reason of their
status or service as its directors or officers, to reimburse or advance the
expenses they may incur as a result of threatened claims or proceedings brought
against them, and to cover them under VIA's directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies to the maximum extent that insurance coverage is maintained.

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

           Not applicable.

Item 8.    Exhibits.

         Exhibit
          Number                                 Description
          ------                                 -----------

            5.1        Opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding the legality
                       of the securities being registered.

           23.1        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

           23.2        The consent of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included as part
                       of Exhibit 5.1).

           24.1        Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                       registration statement).

                                       2
Item 9.    Undertakings.

           (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                     being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                     statement:

                     (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section
                           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                     (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                           arising after the effective date of the registration
                           statement (or the most recent post-effective
                           amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                           aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                           information set forth in the registration statement.
                           Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
                           decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
                           total dollar value of securities offered would not
                           exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
                           from the low or high and of the estimated maximum
                           offering range may be reflected in the form of the
                           prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                           424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
                           and price represent no more than 20 percent change in
                           the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
                           "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                           effective registration statement;

                     (iii) To include any material information with respect to
                           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
                           the registration statement or any material change to
                           such information in the registration statement;

                provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
                not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, S-8 or
                Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-
                effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
                reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
                registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
                Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this
                registration statement.

                (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
                     the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                     shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
                     to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                     securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
                     bona fide offering thereof.

                (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                     amendment any of the securities being registered which
                     remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

           (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

           (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
therefore is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than for the payment by the registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of the issue.

                                       3
SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, VIA
NET.WORKS, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the County of Fairfax, Commonwealth of Virginia, as of
May 31, 2000.

                                          VIA NET.WORKS, Inc.

                                          By:/s/ David M. D'Ottavio
                                             --------------------------------
                                             David M. D'Ottavio
                                             Chief Executive Officer and
                                              Chairman of the Board of Directors

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

       Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David
M. D'Ottavio and Catherine A. Graham, and each of them, his or her true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, from such person and in each person's name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement or any registration statement
relating to this registration statement under Rule 462 under the Securities Act
of 1933 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of May 31, 2000.

          Signature                                      Title
          ---------                                      -----

/s/ David M. D'Ottavio
--------------------------
David M. D'Ottavio                 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
                                   Board of Directors
                                   (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Michael J. Simmons
--------------------------
Michael J. Simmons                 President

/s/ Catherine A. Graham
--------------------------
Catherine A. Graham                Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                   Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                   Officer)

/s/ William A. Johnston
--------------------------
William A. Johnston                Director
/s/ Gabriel Battista
---------------------------
Gabriel Battista                              Director

/s/ Edward D. Breen
---------------------------
Edward D. Breen                               Director

/s/ Stephen J. Eley
---------------------------
Stephen J. Eley                               Director

/s/ William J. Elsner
---------------------------
William J. Elsner                             Director

/s/ Adam Goldman
---------------------------
Adam Goldman                                  Director

/s/ Mark J. Masiello
---------------------------
Mark J. Masiello                              Director

/s/ John G. Puente
---------------------------
John G. Puente                                Director

/s/ Erik M. Torgerson
---------------------------
Erik M. Torgerson                             Director
Index To Exhibits

 Exhibit
 Number                         Description
 ------                         -----------

 5.1                Opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding the legality of
                    the securities being registered.

23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2                The consent of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included as part of
                    Exhibit 5.1).

24.1                Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                    registration statement).