This deep dive covers Deep Dive: Why Network Types Matter within LAN and WAN for GCSE Computer Science. Revise LAN and WAN in Networks for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 16 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 3 of 10 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 10
Practice
15 questions
Recall
16 flashcards
Deep Dive: Why Network Types Matter
Networks are classified by their geographical spread. Understanding LAN vs WAN is crucial because:
- Different costs: LANs use your own cables/WiFi (one-time cost). WANs use telecoms infrastructure (ongoing monthly fees)
- Different speeds: LANs can be 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps). WANs typically 10-100 Mbps (limited by distance and infrastructure)
- Different ownership: You control your LAN (security, upgrades). You rely on third parties for WANs
- Different reliability: LANs have minimal latency. WANs can have delays, packet loss, congestion
The key principle: As networks grow larger, they get slower, more expensive, and more complex to manage. But they also connect more devices and span greater distances!