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Wide area networks


Wide Area Networks (WANs) are used to link computers over longer distances
than are feasible with LANs. WANs may link computers across a city, a country
or internationally. Telecommunications lines will usually be leased from a
carrier, but micro-wave and laser based equipment may also be used. WAN speeds
are usually much slower than with LANs, so bandwidth heavy facilities such as
transparent file sharing are generally impractical. The main uses of WANs are
rather for less demanding activities such as file transfer, remote login and
electronic mail.



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