Connectivity:

A WAN is a larger version of a LAN, designed to allow communication over a wide geographical area. The principal advantage of a WAN is its size. By linking multiple sites together, LANs allow communication between entities on different sides of the country or even the other side of the world. This can be especially beneficial for businesses, allowing them to centralize key operations, such as stock control.

WAN technology can be used to access network resources remotely, including other WANs or LANs. This can facilitate flexible working to fit work around other personal and business commitments.

Use of public infrastructure means that connecting clients to a WAN is generally less costly than connecting them to a LAN.