A user-owned and operated transmission facility connecting a number of communication devices - such as telephones, LANs, fax machines, etc. - over an extended geographical area, such as between different cities or countries.
Your Internet Connection is usually considered a wide area network.
Any internet or network that covers more than one single building. See also LAN.
A network that uses local telephone company lines to connect geographically dispersed locations. WANs provide connectivity between LANs and network addresses. See LAN.
this ususally refers to LANs (Local Area Networks) that are connected. A WAN can span streets, cities and countries. The Internet is an example of a WAN, connecting computers around the world.
A Wide Area Network connects computers over a long distance via telephone lines or satellite link. Technically, the Internet itself is a gigantic, worldwide WAN which is owned by various individuals and corporate or governmental entities.