Which network is made up of local area networks (LANs) connected over long distances?

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is specifically designed to connect multiple local area networks (LANs) over large geographical distances. The primary characteristic of a WAN is its ability to cover broad areas, often spanning cities, countries, or even continents. This is accomplished through various communication technologies that link the individual LANs, allowing them to communicate and share resources as if they were within the same local network.

In contrast, a LAN is restricted to a smaller geographic area, such as a single building or campus, serving a limited number of devices. The Internet is a global network made up of millions of interconnected networks, including WANs and LANs, but it represents an even larger scope than what is defined as a WAN. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), on the other hand, connects networks across a city or a specific geographical area, which is still more limited than what a WAN covers. Thus, the term that accurately describes a network consisting of interconnected LANs over extensive distances is a WAN.