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Advantages Disadvantages

High speed and low latency Limited to a small area

Cheaper setup costs Risk of unauthorised access if not properly
secured
Easy to share files and resources like printers Network problems may affect all connected
devices

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): This network connects two or more local area networks to cover
a larger area than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city or a large campus.

Branch B

Branch A
Branch C

Advantages Disadvantages

Covers a larger area than LAN More complex than LAN
High-speed connectivity across buildings Needs specialised hardware

Cost-effective compared to WAN Security can be a concern

Wide Area Network (WAN): A WAN covers a much larger geographic area than a LAN or
MAN. It can span a city, country or even multiple continents, connecting multiple LANs together.
The Internet is the largest and most well-known example of a WAN, connecting millions of
devices globally.

12 Computer Science (V5.0)-VIII