1

Definition

LAN stands for Local Area Network.

MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network.

WAN stands for Wide Area Network.

2

Ownership

LAN is often owned by private organizations.

MAN ownership can be private or public.

WAN ownership can be private or public.

3

Speed

LAN speed is quiet high.

MAN speed is average.

WAN speed is lower than that of LAN.

4

Delay

Network Propagation Delay is short in LAN.

Network Propagation Delay is moderate in MAN.

Network Propagation Delay is longer in WAN.

5

Congestion

LAN has low congestion as compared to WAN.

MAN has higher congestion than LAN.

WAN has higher congestion than both MAN and LAN.

6

Fault Tolerance

Fault Tolerance of LAN is higher than WAN.

Fault Tolerance of MAN is lower than LAN.

Fault Tolerance of WAN is lower than both LAN and MAN.

7

Maintenance

Designing and maintaining LAN is easy and less costly than WAN.

Designing and maintaining WAN is complex and more costly than LAN.

Designing and maintaining WAN is complex and more costly than both LAN and MAN.