WAN

WANs (wide area networks) connect systems that are linked over long distances. In this case, the sovereignty of the telecommunications authorities in the individual states is always an issue, regardless of whether connection takes place directly over national equipment or via private wide area networks.

Below are some of the most well-known and most frequently used WANs:

• Circuit-switched networks, e.g. public switched telephone networks, ISDN, direct dial connections

• Mobile telephone networks (e.g. GSM). From the BCAM viewpoint these are regarded as WANs.