Local Area Network (LAN)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Definition/ Areas of Coverage

A network that covers in a limited geographical area such as home.

A high speed network that connects local area networks (LANs) in a metropolitan area such as campuses.

A network that covers a large geographical area located within a countryside and worldwide networks such as a city.

Ownership

Owned and operated by individual organizations.

Owned by a group of users who jointly own and operate the network.

Have no ownership.

Example

Sharing a printer in a building.

Traffic light monitoring system in a city.

Internet.