Page 15 - CodePilot V5.0 C8

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.

Advantages Disadvantages
Covers large geographical areas Expensive to set up and maintain
Connects multiple LANs and MANs Slower speed and high latency

Facilitates communication across the world Difficult to troubleshoot and manage

Personal Area Network (PAN): A PAN is a small network
that connects devices in close proximity to an individual,
typically within a range of a few meters. PANs use wireless
technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect devices

like smartphones, laptops, tablets and wearable devices
(like smartwatches). PANs are generally used for personal
purposes and allow easy data transfer between devices, such
as syncing files or connecting wireless headphones to a phone.

Advantages Disadvantages
Low setup cost Very limited range (few metres)

Easy to manage Low speed and performance
Convenient for short-range communication Risk of interference from other devices
(e.g., Bluetooth)

13
Networks Around Us