wide area network

A wide area network (W AN) links networks that are located in different local calling areas, known as Local Access Transport Areas (LATAs).
Wide area networks (WANs) expand the basic LAN model by linkingLANs to communicate with each other. By traditional definition, a LAN becomes a W AN when you expand the network configuration beyond your own premises and must lease data communication lines from a pub lic carrier. W AN s support data transmissions across public carriers by using facilities such as dial-up lines, dedicated lines, or packet switching, as shown in Exhibit 1-2. A W AN is characterized by:

• Wide geographic area, any size up to national or international .Low- to high-speed links
  
• Remote links that might be operational LANs or groups of workstations only

WAN = Public Network : The Internet is a public network
LAN = Private Network : A private network is a network which only authorized user can access and given permission