Metropolitan Area Network

Unlike local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN) is a paradigm that establishes connection between users with computer resources in a geographic area or region. In layman’s terms, the area covered by MAN is larger than what the LAN achieves, but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN). This means the metropolitan area network is evolved to set up interconnection of networks in an area into a sole larger network. This paradigm accumulates several local area networks to link to the backbone line. The latter transmits data collected from smaller lines that interconnect with it. Specimens of metropolitan area network of different sizes can be traced in London, Lodz, Geneva, and other metropolitan cities across the globe. Several studies reveal that utilization of metropolitan area networks is often seen in large universities and such installations are referred to as campus networks.