<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.18J


                          FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT


          This Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement is made as of February 13,
1998, between International Wireless Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "BORROWER"), and Toronto Dominion Investments, Inc. ("TDI").

          The Borrower, TDI and certain other Lenders named therein are parties
to a Loan Agreement dated as of August 18, 1997, as amended on December
30, 1997, January 15, 1998, January 30, 1998, and February 5, 1998 (the "LOAN
AGREEMENT").  Each capitalized term which is used and not otherwise defined in
this Fifth Amendment has the meaning which the Loan Agreement assigns to that
term.

          The Borrower has informed the Lenders that it anticipates that it will
not enter into an engagement agreement described in Section 7(c)(iii)(D) of the
Exchange Agreement dated as of August 18, 1997, among Borrower and the Persons
named therein, on or before February 14, 1998, and has requested that the
Lenders amend Section 6.01(o) of the Loan Agreement as set forth in this Fifth
Amendment.

          The Borrower has also informed the Lenders that it anticipates being
out of compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 5.01(j) of the Loan
Agreement and has requested that the Lenders amend that covenant as set forth in
this Fifth Amendment.

          TDI (which, by itself, constitutes Requisite Lenders) has agreed to
make the foregoing amendments.


          Now, therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

          1.   Section 6.01(o) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the date "February 14, 1998" and replacing such date with "February 20,
1998."

          2.   Section 5.01(j) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended and
restated in its entirety as follows:

          (j)  CASH RESERVE.  In the case of Borrower, cause the sum of the
     aggregate amount of cash on hand, the value of the Cash Equivalents
     (as such term is defined in the indenture) owned by it and the Unused
     Commitment Amount at all times to equal or exceed $375,000.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 5.01(j), if Borrower
     consummates its proposed sale of Series J Preferred Stock to Vanguard
     Cellular Systems, Inc., or an affiliate thereof, for aggregate cash
     proceeds of at least $3,300,000, then the foregoing minimum cash
     reserve amount shall increase from $375,000 to $1,000,000 upon closing
     of such transaction.


<PAGE>

          3.   Except as amended by Sections 1 and 2 above, the Loan Agreement
remains in full force and effect.  The Borrower represents and warrants that,
after giving effect to the amendment set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above (if
necessary), no Default or Potential Event of Default is in existence as at the
date hereof.


                        [This space intentionally left blank.]


<PAGE>

          In witness whereof, the Borrower and TDI have caused this Fifth
Amendment to be executed and delivered as of the date first set forth above.


                                        INTERNATIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
                                        HOLDINGS, INC.

                                        By: /s/ AARTI C. GURNANI
                                           --------------------------------
                                        Its: VICE PRESIDENT, LEGAL AFFAIRS
                                            -------------------------------

                                        TORONTO DOMINION INVESTMENTS, INC.

                                        By: /s/ MARTHA GARIEPY
                                           --------------------------------
                                        Its: VICE PRESIDENT
                                            -------------------------------