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Difference between WAN and a WWAN
Wireless WAN is a type of WAN that uses only wireless connections. A WAN in general is a network of local area networks (LANs) that link to other LANs via telephone lines and radio waves. WANs can also use wired connections. Go through this article to find out more about WAN and Wireless WAN and how they are different from each other.
What is a WAN?
A WAN (Wide Area Network) is a computer network that connects multiple locations across a large geographic area, albeit it may be limited to the boundaries of a state or country. It can be restricted to a single firm (a corporation or organization) or open to the public. The technology is both high-speed and low-cost.
- Switched WAN and Point-to-Point WAN are the two forms of WAN. A switched WAN is an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, whereas a point-to-point WAN is a dial-up connection linking a home computer to the Internet.
- Designing and maintaining a WAN is tough. A WAN's fault tolerance is lower than a MAN's, and the network is more congested.
- PSTN or Satellite Link is a WAN communication medium.
- Noise and inaccuracy seem to be more prevalent in WANs due to long-distance transmission.
- Because of the increased distance and number of servers and terminals, the data rate of a WAN is about a tenth of that of a LAN. WAN speeds range from a few kilobits per second (Kbps) to several megabits per second (Mbps) (Mbps).
One of the most severe issues here is propagation latency. Optic lines, microwaves, and satellites are the devices utilized for data transmission over the WAN.
What is a WWAN (Wireless WAN)?
A wireless wide area network (WWAN) is a network that delivers wireless signals beyond the boundaries of a single building or property. A local area network, or LAN, on the other hand, connects computers and other hardware components within a residential or commercial property.
The signal processing technologies used by Wireless WAN and Wireless LAN are also different. Wireless WAN uses mobile cellular network technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G to transfer data. Another name for it is mobile broadband. A wireless service provider provides these technologies, which are offered regionally, nationally, or even globally.
Difference between WAN and WWAN
The following table highlights the major differences between a WAN and a wireless WAN.
| Key | WAN | WWAN |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | WAN stands for Wide Area Network. | WWAN stands for Wireless Wide Area Network. |
| Connection Type | WAN connections include wired as well as wireless connection technologies. | WWAN connections are completely based on wireless technology. |
| Coverage | WAN covers a large geographical regions like a country. | WWAN covers large geographical regions. |
| Cost | WAN connections are less expensive, more secure that wireless connections of WWAN. | WWAN connections are more expensive and considered less secure than wired connections. |
| Complexity | Installation of WAN is relatively cheaper but it is complex to install. | Installation of WWAN is costly but simple. |
| Performance | WAN provides good performance and the impact of weather is limited. | WWAN provides high performance but it may get impacted in bad weather. |
| Mobility | WAN has limited mobility. | WWAN is highly mobile in nature. |
| Speed | A WAN's network speed and the pace at which data is transmitted are slower than a WWAN's. | A WWAN's network speed and the speed at which data is delivered are faster than a WAN's. |
| Interruption | WAN connections cannot be interrupted easily. | WWAN connections can be interrupted easily. |
Conclusion
From the above discussion, we can conclude that WAN connections can include both wired and wireless technologies. Wired WAN services include carrier Ethernet, commercial broadband Internet links, etc., whereas wireless WAN technologies include cellular data networks like 4G LTE, public Wi-Fi, satellite networks.
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