A Wide Area Network (WAN) is designed to provide connectivity by linking geographically distant locations, enabling seamless communication over vast distances. Unlike Local Area Networks (LANs), which cover smaller, local areas like homes and businesses, WANs link remote locations such as branch offices, data centers, or different campuses. They use services from telecom companies, cable providers, satellites, and specialized network providers to connect these distant LANs.
WANs connect people globally, enabling real-time collaboration and supporting data-intensive applications. They rely on various connection types to provide high-bandwidth access across extensive geographical areas, serving as the foundation of modern global communication and data sharing.
Additionally, they enable resource sharing, allowing multiple locations to efficiently access centralized servers, databases, or internet resources. They also prioritize reliability by incorporating redundancy and failover mechanisms, ensuring network stability and minimizing downtime in case of disruptions.