DATA COMMS & NETWORKING 1

WAN Technologies

Sandeep Gali Jayapal

IST 7040

Wilmington University
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Introduction:

Generally, the term Wide Area Network (WAN) refers to the techniques and tools used to

link numerous Local Area Networks (LANs) over a considerable geographic area. WANs allow

for communication across cities, nations, or even entire continents, in contrast to LANs, which

are limited to a single location like a house, workplace, or college. WAN technologies are made

to make data transfer and communication between geographically separated places easier. They

are essential for businesses that must link numerous branches, offices, or facilities located in

various regions.

Technologies for wide-area networks (WANs) include a variety of protocols and circuits

that permit communication over vast geographic areas. There are three key types: Point-to-Point

(dedicated), Packet Switched, and Circuit Switched WAN Protocols/circuits/types. Each of these

WAN technologies has its own strengths and is well suited for specific requirements. These are

frequently combined by businesses to provide a comprehensive network that meets all of their

unique communication requirements. The decision is made in the light of elements such as data

volume, security needs, and the type of applications being used.

1. Point-to-Point (Dedicated) WAN:

Point-to-Point WANs create a private-communication channel by establishing a direct,

dedicated link between two locations. Here a dedicated physical connection is used frequently that

is leased from a service provider. They are highly reliable due to the linked sites, point-to-point

connections are renowned for their high reliability and minimal latency. Also, they are used for

secure way of communicating as they are private link which provides a higher level of security.

For an example, connecting two corporate offices in different cities having direct connection to
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the data center to enable safe and quick data transfer. The upload and download rates are normally

equal since data transmission bandwidth is typically symmetrical. The two end points will

communicate equally as a result of this. Although point-to-point WANs provide high levels of

security and reliability, they might be more expensive than shared networking options. The lease

for the dedicated line and any related equipment is included in the price.

Associated data transmission technologies:

 T1/E1 Lines: T1 line uses copper or fiber-optic connections to carry digital data. T1’s

equivalent in Europe is E1. T1 offers a maximum bandwidth of 1.544 Mbps providing

2.048 Mbps is E1

 T3 Lines: T3 lines are high-capacity circuits that transmits data using coaxial or fiber-

optic connections. T3 lines can deliver a maximum of 44.376 Mbps of bandwidth.

2. Packet Switched WAN:

In Packet switched WAN, data is separated into packets using the packet switching

technique, and each packet is transferred independently over the network. At the destination, they

are put back together. It is well suited for large-scale networks. Also, it has capability to support

bursty traffic patterns of data transmission.

Packet switching enables more effective utilization of network resources by allowing

several transmissions to share a signal channel. It is well suited for large-scale WANs since it is

both highly scalable and responsive to network congestion. Flexible routing feature increases

network resilience by allowing data packets to go via many routes to their final destination. Internet
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browsing, emailing and file transfers are examples of use cases where data is sent over the internet

in distinct packets.

While most data applications can benefit from packet switching, other applications such as

voice calls and video streaming may not work as well because of potential packet delivery delays.

Voice over IP and video conferencing are the applications that can dynamically allocate bandwidth

based on demand. Here each packet contains error checking information. It is possible to retransmit

a packet if it is received with errors, protecting the integrity of the contents.

Associated Data Transmission Technologies:

 Frame Relay: A network of switches is used by the packet-switching technique known as

Frame Relay to move data packets between sites. Frame Relay is only capable of using

bandwidths between 56 Kbps and 45 Mbps.

 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM): ATM is a cell-switching method that transmits

data using fixed-size cells. ATM is capable of 155 Mbps, 622 Mbps, and even greater

speeds

3. Circuit Switched WAN:

For the duration of a session, circuit switching creates a dedicated link between two parties.

Until the session is ended, this connection will remain open.

Consistent performance is ensured by allocating a dedicated path for the duration of a session.

They are less effective for bursty traffic patterns. Circuit switching is a technique used in traditional

telephone networks to create voice connections. Regular phone calls and video conferences that

require a continuous connection throughout the conversation.

Circuit switching offers a reliable and predictable connection, but because resources are

continuously allocated, it may not be as economical for networks with erratic or bursty

communication patterns. This technology has its own dedicated circuit for the phone conversation

in telephone networks. Once the communication is established, the circuit is reserved for it till the

session is over. Even if there isn’t any active data transmission, the resources are constantly

allocated for the life of the session.

Associated Data Transmission Technologies:

 ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network):

Digital lines are used by ISDN, a circuit-switched technology, to transmit speech and

data. Limitations on bandwidth include 128 Kbps for Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and 1.544

Mbps for Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

 PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network):

A worldwide network of circuit-switched phone lines is known as PSTN. Digital

Subscriber Line (DSL) technology can deliver faster speeds, up to several Mbps, but analog PSTN

lines can only deliver up to 56 Kbps.

Conclusion:

Each technology handles particular requirements and situations. For dedicated, secure

connections, for their predictable and stable connections, Point-to-Point is the best option,

followed by Packet Switching for effective data transmission. Modern data-intensive applications

are highly suited because of their superior ability to handle diverse and dynamic data traffic and

Circuit Switching for dependable real-time communication, particularly in scenarios like

telephony. Based on considerations such as bandwidth needs, geographic dispersion, and the type

of applications being utilized, organizations decide which of these technologies to use. In the end,

selecting WAN technology carefully is essential to creating a network that satisfies the particular

requirement of a specific environment.

Reference:

Mahbubur Rahman Syed (2014). Wide Area Networks: Enabling Technologies and Solutions

https://www.pearsonhighered.com/assets/samplechapter/1/5/8/7/1587132052.pdf

Cisco Networking Academy (2017). Connecting Networks V6 Companion Guide

https://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=2832405&seqNum=4

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-circuit-switching-and-packet-switching/

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5595/leased-line