Wide Area Network
Bongsik Shin · Auerbach Publications eBooks · 2017
This chapter explains popular Wide Area Network (WAN) services offered on the infrastructure wholly owned by the carrier. The WAN service is fee based, in which service costs are decided by various factors including the standard technology utilized, connection speed, quality of service, and link distance. Similar to local area network standards, a carrier&s;s WAN infrastructure primarily utilizes physical and data link layer technologies. The layer is responsible for functions such as addressing and packet encapsulation within the frame. WAN standards at the data link layer are designed to support either circuit switching or packet switching. The chapter explains technology options available to access WAN service at the physical layer. They include several leased lines and other WAN links that offer high-speed connectivity to the carrier&s;s network and to the Internet, which include digital subscriber lines, cable, and broadband wireless. The chapter also explains the cellular wireless WAN and one of the most important developments in telecommunications.