Which network type covers an area of around 25 miles and connects scattered locations across a city?

A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to cover a geographical area that typically ranges from several miles up to about 25 miles, making it ideal for connecting various locations within a city. This type of network allows for the consolidation of network resources and services across a larger area than a Local Area Network (LAN), which is limited to small geographic areas like a single building or campus.

A MAN is specifically focused on connecting multiple LANs, allowing for high-speed data transfer and communications between institutions, businesses, and residences within the metropolitan area. This structure provides essential capabilities for organizations that may need to share data and resources across a broader region, enhancing connectivity and support for services like internet access and other network applications.

While a Wide Area Network (WAN) also covers large geographic areas, it typically spans much larger distances and can connect networks across cities, countries, or even globally. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) refers to a secure, encrypted connection over the internet, primarily used for ensuring secure communications, rather than defining a physical network structure. Local Area Networks (LANs) are confined to small, localized environments. These distinctions highlight why a MAN is the most appropriate choice for the specified area coverage of about 25 miles in an urban setting.