What is a WAN?
A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network. The term
distinguishes a broader telecommunication structure from a local area network (LAN). A wide
area network may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of
public (shared user) networks. An intermediate form of network in terms of geography is a
metropolitan area network (MAN).
This was last updated in April 2007
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