Document:

The following form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement was entered into with
James B. Dittman, Dr. Hussein Elkholy, and Dr. Leonard Hausman as follows:

                                                            2000-OP
                                                                   --------

                                                            --------------------
                                                            Optionee

                            VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            ------------------------

                  FORM OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                            VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                      1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED

                  This  Agreement  is made as of October  16,  2000 (the  "Grant
Date") by and between VDC  Communications,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Corporation"), and the person named on Schedule A hereto (the "Optionee").

                  WHEREAS,  Optionee is a valuable  agent of the  Corporation or
one of its  subsidiaries  and the Corporation  considers it desirable and in its
best  interest  that  Optionee be given an  inducement  to acquire a proprietary
interest in the  Corporation  and an incentive  to advance the  interests of the
Corporation  by granting  the  Optionee  an option to purchase  shares of common
stock of the Corporation (the "Common Stock");

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  the parties hereto,  intending to be legally
bound,  hereby agree that as of the Grant Date,  the  Corporation  hereby grants
Optionee an option to purchase from it, upon the terms and  conditions set forth
in the VDC Communications,  Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time
to time,  (the "Plan") (a copy of which is attached  hereto) and this Agreement,
that  number  of shares  of the  authorized  and  unissued  Common  Stock of the
Corporation as is set forth on Schedule A hereto.

                  1.       Terms of Stock Option.  The option to purchase Common
                           ---------------------
Stock  granted  hereby is subject to the terms,  conditions,  and  covenants set
forth in the Plan as well as the following:

                           (a)      This option shall constitute a Non-Qualified
                                    Stock   Option  which  is  not  intended  to
                                    qualify  under  Section 422 of the  Internal
                                    Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

                                       1
<PAGE>

                           (b)      The per share  exercise price for the shares
                                    subject  to this  option  shall  be the Fair
                                    Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the
                                    Common  Stock  on  the  Grant  Date,   which
                                    exercise  price is set forth on  Schedule  A
                                    hereto;

                           (c)      This option  shall vest in  accordance  with
                                    the vesting schedule set forth on Schedule A
                                    hereto;  and

                           (d)      No portion of this  option may be  exercised
                                    more  than  ten  (10)  years  from the Grant
                                    Date.

                  2.       Payment  of  Exercise  Price.   The  option   may  be
                           ----------------------------
exercised,  in part or in whole,  only by  written  request  to the  Corporation
accompanied by payment of the exercise price in full either: (i) in cash for the
shares  with  respect  to  which  it is  exercised;  (ii) by  delivering  to the
Corporation   a  notice  of  exercise  with  an   irrevocable   direction  to  a
broker-dealer  registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
to sell a  sufficient  portion  of the  shares  and  deliver  the sale  proceeds
directly to the Corporation to pay the exercise  price;  (iii) in the discretion
of  the  Plan  Administrator,   through  the  delivery  to  the  Corporation  of
previously-owned  shares of Common Stock  having an aggregate  Fair Market Value
equal to the option exercise price of the shares being purchased pursuant to the
exercise of the Option; provided, however, that shares of Common Stock delivered
in payment of the option  price must have been held by the Optionee for at least
six (6)  months in order to be  utilized  to pay the option  price;  (iv) in the
discretion  of the Plan  Administrator,  through an  election  to have shares of
Common Stock  otherwise  issuable to the  Optionee  withheld to pay the exercise
price  of such  Option;  or (v) in the  discretion  of the  Plan  Administrator,
through any combination of the payment procedures set forth in Subsections (i) -
(iv) of this paragraph.

                  3.       Miscellaneous.
                           -------------

                           (a)      This  Agreement  is binding upon the parties
                                    hereto and their respective heirs,  personal
                                    representatives,  successors  and  permitted
                                    assigns.

                           (b)      This   Agreement   will  be   governed   and
                                    interpreted  in accordance  with the laws of
                                    the  State  of   Connecticut,   and  may  be
                                    executed in more than one counterpart,  each
                                    of  which  shall   constitute   an  original
                                    document.

                           (c)      Other than  alterations  to,  amendments to,
                                    suspensions of, or  discontinuations  of the
                                    Plan,   as   permitted   by  the  Plan,   no
                                    alterations,    amendments,    changes    or
                                    additions to this  Agreement will be binding
                                    upon  either  the  Corporation  or  Optionee
                                    unless reduced to writing and signed by both
                                    parties.

                           (d)      All  controversies  or claims arising out of
                                    this   Agreement   shall  be  determined  by
                                    binding   arbitration,   conducted   at  the
                                    Corporation's    offices    in    Greenwich,
                                    Connecticut,   or  at  such  other  location
                                    designated  by the  Corporation,  before the
                                    American Arbitration Association.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                           (e)      No    rule   of    construction    requiring
                                    interpretation  against the  drafting  party
                                    shall  apply to the  interpretation  of this
                                    Agreement.

                           (f)      If any  provision of this  Agreement is held
                                    to  be  invalid,  the  remaining  provisions
                                    shall remain in full force and effect.

                           (g)      The   Corporation    does   not   make   any
                                    representations or warranties  regarding the
                                    current  or  future   value  of  the  shares
                                    underlying the option.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Grant Date.

                                                   VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                                   By:
                                                      --------------------------
                                                         Frederick A. Moran
                                                         Chief Executive Officer

                                                    OPTIONEE:

                                                    ----------------------------

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                                            --------------------
                                                            Optionee

                                   Schedule A

1.  Grant Date:  October 16, 2000

2.  Number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the Option:  10,000

3.  Exercise  Price  (100% of Fair Market Value  of  Common Stock  on  the Grant
    Date):   $0.1875

4.  The Option shall vest in accordance with the following schedule:

         (i)      3,333 shares shall vest on the first  anniversary of the Grant
                  Date, provided Optionee continuously serves as a member of the
                  Corporation's Board of Directors from October 16, 2000 through
                  October 15, 2001;

         (ii)      3,333 shares shall vest on the first anniversary of the Grant
                   Date,  provided Optionee  continuously  serves as a member of
                   the  Corporation's  Board of Directors  from October 16, 2000
                   through October 15, 2002; and

         (iii)    3,334 shares shall vest on the first  anniversary of the Grant
                  Date, provided Optionee continuously serves as a member of the
                  Corporation's Board of Directors from October 16, 2000 through
                  October 15, 2003.

                                       4The following form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement was entered into with the
following executive officers as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                Number of Shares       Shares Vesting Per Year
----                ----------------       -----------------------

<S>                       <C>                       <C>
Edwin B. Read             35,000                    7,000

Clayton F. Moran          35,000                    7,000

</TABLE>

                                                                 2000-OP
                                                                        --------

                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 Optionee

                            VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            ------------------------

                    FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                       UNDER THE VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                      1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED

                  This  Agreement  is made as of October 16,  2000,  (the "Grant
Date") by and between VDC  Communications,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Corporation") and         (the "Optionee").
                   -------

                  WHEREAS,  Optionee is an employee of the Corporation or one of
its  subsidiaries  and the  Corporation  considers it desirable  and in its best
interest that Optionee be given an inducement to acquire a proprietary  interest
in the  Corporation and an incentive to advance the interests of the Corporation
by granting  the  Optionee an option to purchase  shares of common  stock of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock");

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  the parties hereto,  intending to be legally
bound,  hereby agree that as of the Grant Date,  the  Corporation  hereby grants
Optionee an option to purchase from it, upon the terms and  conditions set forth
in the VDC Communications,  Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time
to time,  (the "Plan") (a copy of which is attached  hereto) and this Agreement,
that  number  of shares  of the  authorized  and  unissued  Common  Stock of the
Corporation as is set forth on Schedule A hereto.

                  1.       Terms of Stock Option.  The option to purchase Common
                           ---------------------
Stock  granted  herein is subject to the terms,  conditions,  and  covenants set
forth in the Plan as well as the following:

<PAGE>

                           (a)      This option  shall  constitute  an Incentive
                                    Stock  Option  which is  intended to qualify
                                    under  Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue
                                    Code of 1986, as amended;

                           (b)      The per share  exercise price for the shares
                                    subject to this option  shall be the 100% of
                                    the Fair  Market  Value (as  defined  in the
                                    Plan) of the Common Stock on the Grant Date,
                                    which   exercise   price  is  set  forth  on
                                    Schedule A hereto;

                           (c)      This option shall vest  in  accordance  with
                                    the vesting schedule set forth on Schedule A
                                    hereto;  and

                           (d)      No  portion of  this option may be exercised
                                    more  than ten  (10)  years from  the  Grant
                                    Date.

                  2.       Payment  of  Exercise  Price.   The  option   may  be
                           ----------------------------
exercised,  in part or in whole,  only by  written  request  to the  Corporation
accompanied by payment of the exercise price in full either: (i) in cash for the
shares  with  respect  to  which  it is  exercised;  (ii) by  delivering  to the
Corporation   a  notice  of  exercise  with  an   irrevocable   direction  to  a
broker-dealer  registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
to sell a  sufficient  portion  of the  shares  and  deliver  the sale  proceeds
directly to the Corporation to pay the exercise  price;  (iii) in the discretion
of  the  Plan  Administrator,   through  the  delivery  to  the  Corporation  of
previously-owned  shares of Common Stock  having an aggregate  Fair Market Value
equal to the option exercise price of the shares being purchased pursuant to the
exercise of the Option; provided, however, that shares of Common Stock delivered
in payment of the option  price must have been held by the Optionee for at least
six (6)  months in order to be  utilized  to pay the option  price;  (iv) in the
discretion  of the Plan  Administrator,  through an  election  to have shares of
Common Stock  otherwise  issuable to the  Optionee  withheld to pay the exercise
price  of such  Option;  or (v) in the  discretion  of the  Plan  Administrator,
through any combination of the payment procedures set forth in Subsections (i) -
(iv) of this paragraph.

                  3.       Miscellaneous.
                           -------------

                           (a)      This  Agreement and the options  represented
                                    hereby may not be assigned or transferred in
                                    any manner  except by will or by the laws of
                                    descent  and  distribution  or pursuant to a
                                    domestic relations order.

                           (b)      This   Agreement   will  be   governed   and
                                    interpreted  in accordance  with the laws of
                                    the State of Connecticut and federal law (to
                                    the extent it preempts the laws of the State
                                    of Connecticut), and may be executed in more

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    than one  counterpart,  each of which  shall
                                    constitute an original document.

                           (c)      Other than  alterations  to,  amendments to,
                                    suspensions of, or  discontinuations  of the
                                    Plan,   as   permitted   by  the  Plan,   no
                                    alterations,    amendments,    changes    or
                                    additions to this  Agreement will be binding
                                    upon  either  the  Corporation  or  Optionee
                                    unless reduced to writing and signed by both
                                    parties.

                           (d)      All  controversies  or claims arising out of
                                    this   Agreement   shall  be  determined  by
                                    binding   arbitration,   conducted   at  the
                                    Corporation's    offices    in    Greenwich,
                                    Connecticut,   or  at  such  other  location
                                    designated  by the  Corporation,  before the
                                    American Arbitration Association.

                           (e)      No    rule   of    construction    requiring
                                    interpretation  against the  drafting  party
                                    shall  apply to the  interpretation  of this
                                    Agreement.

                           (f)      If any  provision of this  Agreement is held
                                    to  be  invalid,  the  remaining  provisions
                                    shall remain in full force and effect.

                           (g)      The   Corporation    does   not   make   any
                                    representations or warranties  regarding the
                                    current  or  future   value  of  the  shares
                                    underlying the option.

         In witness whereof,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Grant Date.

                                                 CORPORATION:

                                                 VDC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                                 By:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                        Frederick A. Moran
                                                        Chief Executive Officer

                                                 OPTIONEE:

                                                 -------------------------------

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                                                ----------------
                                                                Optionee

                                   Schedule A

1.  Grant Date:  October 16, 2000

2.  Number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the Option:
                                                            -------

3.  Exercise Price  (100%  of  Fair Market Value  of  Common Stock  on the Grant
    Date):   $0.1875

4.  The Option shall vest in accordance with the following schedule:

         (i)               shares  shall  vest on the first  anniversary  of the
                  -------
                  Grant Date, provided Optionee remains continuously employed by
                  the Corporation or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in the
                  Plan) from October 16, 2000 through October 15, 2001;

         (ii)              shares  shall vest on the second  anniversary  of the
                  -------
                  Grant Date, provided Optionee remains continuously employed by
                  the Corporation or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in the
                  Plan) from October 16, 2000 through October 15, 2002;

         (iii)             shares  shall  vest on the third  anniversary  of the
                  -------
                  Grant Date, provided Optionee remains continuously employed by
                  the Corporation or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in the
                  Plan) from October 16, 2000 through October 15, 2003;

         (iv)              shares  shall vest on the fourth  anniversary  of the
                  -------
                  Grant Date, provided Optionee remains continuously employed by
                  the Corporation or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in the
                  Plan) from October 16, 2000 through October 15, 2004; and

         (v)               shares  shall  vest on the fifth  anniversary  of the
                  -------
                  Grant Date, provided Optionee remains continuously employed by
                  the Corporation or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in the
                  Plan) from October 16, 2000 through October 15, 2005.

                                       4

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