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Fig. 8.16: Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

8.10.4 Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN is a telecommunication network. This type of network spreads over a large geographical area
across countries and continents. WANs are generally used to interconnect several other types of
networks such as LANs, MANs, etc. They facilitate fast and efficient exchange of information at a
high speed and low cost. A WAN uses common carriers like satellite systems, telephone lines, etc.

WAN can cover an area with a radius spanning hundreds of kilometres. A network of ATMs, banks,
government offices, international organizations’ offices, etc., spread over a country, continent or
covering many continents are examples of WAN.

All types of communication media (guided and unguided) are used to set up a WAN. The best known
example of a WAN is the internet. The internet is the largest WAN spanning the entire planet.

CTM: A WAN interconnects all the computers across the world.

Computer Science with Python–XII 8.16 Fig. 8.17: Wide Area Network (WAN)