It will not be wrong to say that, as of now, there are tens of billions of computer networks in the world. Upon the occasion that something has such a massive effect on mankind, countless discourses occur regarding it. For people to be able to participate more effectively in these types of discourses, today, we will be indulging in an exploration of the most prevalent type of computer network in the whole wide world.
Table of Contents
How A Computer Network Is Defined
Computer networks, defined broadly, can be categorized as a connection between computing networks. This connection must lead to an exchange of data. This means that we can also label the connection between a smartwatch and a laptop and a smartphone as a computer network.
The Contenders
When we talk about deciphering the most prevalent types of computer network, we must not forget that there are a lot of contenders out there as there are simply a lot of types of computer networks. In the list below, we have enlisted and described some of the most prevalent types of computer networks.
- WANs: WAN stands for wide area network. These types of networks span over multiple cities and link computers in one city to those in another. A case in point of a WAN is the system linking the automated teller machines of a single bank over the entirety of this country.
- MANs: MAN stands for metropolitan area network. As the name implies, MANs connect computers in a single city. MANs are often operated by telecommunications companies trying to make their mark in metropolitan areas. Conversely, they may also be operated by local authorities.
- LANs: LAN stands for local area network. Local area networks can be seen connecting computers in the same building. They are ideal for offices that want information shared within the building only and no data to be leaked outside it.
- PANs: Like the pans we use for cooking, PANs are small. In fact, personal area networks may very well be categorized as the tiniest of all networks. They can merely consist of a personal computer, a modem, and a printer.
The Internet – The Most Prevalent Of All The Networks
Deciphering the most prevalent type of network would have been difficult if there were many medium-sized networks in the world and no giant network. We would have had to add up the impact of all the medium-sized networks of each category to compare which category has been the most impactful! Thankfully, this job is made easier by the fact that there is one network that is much bigger than all the rest of the other networks in the world – the internet. We believe that if we identify what type of network the internet is, we can automatically pinpoint the most prevalent type of network as the internet is just so big. We don’t just say this out of thin air; here are the reasons why we believe the internet trumps all.
Number Of Devices Connected
There are 35 billion devices connected to the internet. For the purposes of comparison, that number is, at the very least, a hundred times bigger than the number of people living within the borders of this country. Obviously, no other network comes even close to it.
Spread Over Area
The internet is spread over a larger area than any other network. People from all continents use the network. And yes, we are including Antarctica in this as well. They use satellite internet to get connected. In fact, people on the International Space Station also use the internet. Can any other network boast a geographical presence even near to the internet? Nah, we highly doubt it.
Number Of People Connected
The population that the network serves may very well be the most important criteria to determine its impact. The internet serves a whopping five billion people in the world! That is the majority of the world’s population. Chances are you and your loved ones are also subscribed to either Xfinity Internet deals or those of another internet service provider. After all, you are reading this blog currently.
The Verdict
So really, the question we are asking in this article is what type of network the internet is. In our opinion, the internet is a wide area network as it connects people in different cities together. In fact, it is the widest of all networks. Thus, we can conclude that WANs are the most prevalent type of computer network.
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