Global Area Network

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What Does Global Area Network Mean?

A global area network (GAN) refers to a network composed of different interconnected networks that cover an unlimited geographical area. The term is loosely synonymous with Internet, which is considered a global area network.

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Techopedia Explains Global Area Network

Unlike local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN), GANs cover a large geographical area.

Because a GAN is used to support mobile communication across a number of wireless LANs, the key challenge for any GAN is transferring user communications from one local coverage area to the next.

The most sought-after GAN type is a broadband GAN. The broadband GAN is a global satellite Internet network that uses portable terminals for telephony. The terminals connect laptop computers located in remote areas to broadband Internet.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist
Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.