EXHIBIT 10.26

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 24, 2002 BETWEEN  VIA NET.WORKS, INC. AND MATT S. NYDELL

This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is being entered into between VIA NET.WORKS, Inc. ("VIA") and Matt S. Nydell (the "Executive"). For and in
consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, and for other good and sufficient consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, VIA and Executive (sometimes hereafter referred to as
the "parties") agree as follows:

1.    Employment and Duties.VIA agrees to continue employing Executive, and Executive accepts continued employment
with VIA, upon the terms set forth in this Agreement. Executive shall serve as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of VIA and shall perform such duties as are customarily
performed by persons with similar positions in similar companies and shall report to VIA's Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors. Executive shall discharge his responsibilities and in all
other respects shall serve VIA faithfully and to the best of his ability.

2.    Term; At Will Employment Status.Executive's employment with VIA shall continue indefinitely until terminated
by either party in accordance with Paragraph 4 below. VIA and Executive agree that Executive's employment with VIA shall and at all times be "at will." Executive's employment may be terminated
unilaterally by either party at any time for any reason, with or without Cause or Good Reason and with or without notice.

3.    Compensation and Benefits.



4.    Termination.Executive's employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon occurrence of any of the
following:



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5.    Severance.Executive's Severance, if any, shall consist of the following:



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The
parties acknowledge and agree that payment of any severance and benefits under this Paragraph 5 shall be contingent upon the Executive signing the Mutual Release of Claims
attached hereto as
Attachment A (the "Release"); provided, that in the event Executive executes the Release, but VIA fails to execute the Release, Executive shall nevertheless be entitled to the severance and benefits
described under this Paragraph 5 and Executive's execution of the Release shall not take effect.

6.    Stock Options.Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive and VIA acknowledge that VIA granted Executive, under
VIA's 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (as amended), Option Grants. The parties agree that if, during Executive's employment, VIA's stockholders' approve the liquidation or dissolution of
the company, Executive's Option Grants shall be deemed immediately and

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fully vested as of such date of approval, and that after such date of approval, such Option Grants shall not be subject to any restrictions limiting Executive's ability to compete with VIA. The
parties agree that the terms of this Paragraph 6 (only if such a liquidation or dissolution ever occurs) shall constitute amendments to any and all ISO Agreements that have been previously
agreed to by the parties and that, except as amended by this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the ISO Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.

7.    Non-Disclosure of This Agreement.The parties agree that from and after the date of Executive's
receipt of this Agreement, they will not, directly or indirectly, provide to any person or entity any information that concerns or relates to the negotiation of or circumstances leading to the
execution of this Agreement or to the terms and conditions hereof,provided thatExecutive may make disclosure hereunder (i) to the extent that
such disclosure is specifically required by law or legal process or as authorized in writing by VIA; (ii) to his tax advisor(s) as may be necessary for the preparation of tax returns or other
reports required by law; (iii) to his attorney(s) as may be necessary to secure advice concerning this Agreement; and (iv) to members of his family,and provided
further thatVIA may make disclosure (i) to the extent that such disclosure is specifically required by law or legal process or as authorized in writing by Executive;
(ii) to the members of its Board of Directors, senior management team, and accounting and tax personnel; and (iii) as may be reasonably necessary to negotiate or implement this
Agreement. Executive agrees that prior to his disclosing such information (except disclosures required by law or legal process or as authorized in writing by VIA) he will inform the recipients that
they are bound by the limitations of this Paragraph 7. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 7, if this Agreement is filed as an Exhibit to any
Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, Executive's nondisclosure obligations under this Paragraph 7 shall thereupon terminate.

8.    Proprietary and/or Confidential Information.Executive acknowledges that during his employment with VIA, he
has had and will have access to trade secrets and other confidential and/or proprietary information ("Confidential Information"). Executive agrees that he shall continue to abide and be bound by the
promises and obligations in all confidentiality agreements that he has or may have signed with VIA or its affiliates, including but not limited to the VIA NET.WORKS, INC. Employee
Confidentiality Agreement. In addition, Executive agrees that he will use his utmost diligence to preserve, protect, and prevent the disclosure of such Confidential Information, and that he shall not,
either directly or indirectly, use, misappropriate, disclose or aid any other person in disclosing such Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that as used in this Agreement, Confidential
Information includes, but is not limited to, all methods, processes, techniques, practices, product designs, pricing information, billing histories, customer requirements, customer lists, employee
lists, salary information, personnel matters, financial data, operating results, plans, contractual relationships, projections for new business opportunities for new or developing business for VIA,
and technological
innovations in any stage of development. "Confidential Information" also includes, but is not limited to, all notes, records, software, drawings, handbooks, manuals, policies, contracts, memoranda,
sales files, or any other documents generated or compiled by any employee of VIA. Such information is, and shall remain, the exclusive property of VIA, and Executive agrees that he shall promptly
return all such information to VIA upon the termination of his employment.

9.    Return of Property.Executive agrees that upon the termination of his employment for any reason, he will
deliver to VIA the originals and all copies of all files, documents, papers, materials and other property of VIA or its affiliates relating to their affairs, which may then be in his possession or
under his control. Executive may retain only personal correspondence and notes relating to the duties and responsibilities of his employment.

10.    Binding Agreement.This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their
respective representatives, successors and assigns, and Executive's heirs, executors and administrators.

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11.    Entire Agreement; Amendment.This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to
the subject matter of this Agreement, and the parties expressly agree that this Agreement supersedes any employment or consulting contract Executive has or may have with VIA and any other Agreement
between Executive and VIA, including without limitation any VIA stock plan. Each party acknowledges and agrees that in executing this Agreement they do not rely upon any oral representations or
statements made by the other party or the other party's agents, representatives or attorneys with regard to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be altered or amended except by
an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.

12.    Breach or Violation.Executive acknowledges that any breach of this Agreement (including without limitation
any breach of Paragraphs 1, 7, and 8) would cause VIA substantial irreparable injury. Executive agrees that in the event of any violation of this Agreement, in addition to any damages allowed
by law, VIA shall be entitled to injunctive and/or other equitable relief.

13.    Governing Law.This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (excluding the choice of law rules thereof). The language of all parts of this Agreement shall in all cases be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not
strictly for or against any of the parties.

14.    Waiver.Neither the waiver by either party of a breach of or default under any of the provisions of the
Agreement, nor the failure of such party, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of the Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.

15.    Assignment.This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder may not be assigned by
either party without the prior written consent of the other party.

IN
WITNESS HEREOF, THE PARTIES HAVE AFFIXED THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW:

|MATT S. NYDELL    |                | VIA NET.WORKS, INC.
12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 110
Reston, Virginia 20190
|----------------- | -------------- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|/s/MATT S. NYDELL |                | By:                                                                          
|Date:             | April 24, 2002 |                                                                              
|Witness:          |                |                                                                              

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