Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a computer network in which two or more computers or communicating devices or networks which are geographically separated but in same metropolitian city and are connected to each other are said to be connected on MAN. The limits of Metropolitian cities are determined by local municipal corporations and we cannot define them. Hence, the bigger the Metropolitian city the bigger the MAN, smaller a metro city smaller the MAN.

The IEEE 802-2002 standard describes a MAN as being:

“A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings to entire cities. MANs can also depend on communications channels of moderate-to-high data rates. A MAN might be owned and operated by a single organization, but it usually will be used by many individuals and organizations. MANs might also be owned and operated as public utilities. They will often provide means for internetworking of local networks.”

Authors Kenneth C. Laudan and Jane P. Laudon (2001) of Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm 10th ed. define a metropolitan area network as:

“A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a large computer network that spans a metropolitan area or campus. Its geographic scope falls between a WAN and LAN. MANs provide Internet connectivity for LANs in a metropolitan region, and connect them to wider area networks like the Internet.”