LAN, WAN, PON: Common Technology Terms and What It All Means
By Mitch Schenstad
Enterprise Account Executive
Read time: 5 minutes
At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: A reliable network connection that keeps your organization, school or office moving upward. But when it comes to technology, things can get complex – fast. If you’re not equipped to understand all the fancy acronyms, terms or jargon, choosing a networking provider is like navigating a foreign language.
My business card may say “Enterprise Account Executive,” but when it comes to matching the best technology with your connectivity needs, I often find that job title is more like “Professional Translator.” As a professional translator, I know that being armed with a basic understanding of the common terms and acronyms not only builds confidence, it can ensure that you’re getting the right kind of scalable solution from the right provider.
Even if you feel like you already have a basic understanding, it’s always good to ensure that we’re both speaking the same language. Here’s an overview of just a few terms, but don’t forget to download a full glossary with more terms and definitions.
Dedicated Fiber
Official definition: Dedicated (or direct) fiber utilizes Midco network connections from a point of presence (PoP) to the customer location and can provide very high bandwidth. The result is a network service with the best possible performance characteristics. Latency (delay), jitter (variances in delay) and data delivery rates are great with direct fiber delivery.
What it really means: The fiber connection is connected directly to you. Speed-wise, Midco’s direct fiber can reach upwards of 100 Gbps symmetrical download and upload speeds.
LAN: Local Area Network
Official definition: A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices connected in one physical location, such as a building, office or home. A LAN can be small or large, ranging from a home network with one user to an enterprise network with thousands of users and devices in an office or school.1
What it really means: In your office building or school, multiple users share the network, creating a LAN. LANs can be wired, wireless or a mix of both. LANs are key when it comes to sharing files between users, sharing printers, and even allowing your IT team to access and control devices.
WAN: Wide Area Network
Official definition: A wide area network (WAN) is a data communications network that covers a relatively broad geographic area such as the Midco fiber network.1
What it really means: It’s a really big LAN! A WAN connects locations that are spread out – such as a large school district.
Related term: SD-WAN
Learn more about SD-WAN in our Tech Terms Glossary.
EVC: Ethernet Virtual Circuit
Official definition: Ethernet virtual circuits (EVCs) define a Layer 2 (see below) bridging architecture that supports Ethernet services. The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) defines an EVC as an association between two or more user network interfaces that identify a point-to-point or multipoint-to-multipoint path within the service provider network.1
What it really means: An EVC is a theoretical service pipe within Midco’s network that creates a secure, seamless WAN that can extend your private network throughout the region, the nation and beyond.
Just like a popular dip, there are seven layers of networking as defined by the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, first developed in 1984.2 Midco services mainly focus on Layer 1 – Physical, Layer 2 – Data Link and Layer 3 – Network.
MPLS: Multiprotocol Label Switching
Official definition: Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) builds intelligent networks that deliver a wide variety of advanced, value-added services over a single infrastructure. Subscribers with differing access links can be aggregated on an MPLS edge without changing their current environments, as MPLS is independent of access technologies.1
What it really means: Think about how you might set up internet in your home with a wired modem. In order to get wireless, you can use a wireless router to beam out a Wi-Fi signal. You can think of a MPLS router in a similar way. A MPLS router allows us to manage many sites, rather than running dedicated lines between them. It provides increased network visibility, allowing for easier troubleshooting and higher quality of service opportunities.
PON: Passive Optical Network
Official definition: Passive optical network (PON) solutions are a cost-effective way to deliver optical connectivity to a location. An all-fiber network, PON utilizes multiple wavelengths. Modern PON is capable of very high download speeds and equal upload speeds, plus very low latency.
What it really means: Using PON allows you to upload files just as fast as you can download them, that provides enhanced cloud connectivity and improved video streaming – and meets bandwidth requirements as our internet use continues to expand. PON technology is growing in popularity because it provides the power of a direct fiber connection, plus the same reliability and security you’d expect from an all-fiber connection.
The answer? There really isn’t a difference. Providers and network engineers use PON technology to support a Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) architecture. PON is the type of technology, while FTTP is the type of architecture that’s built to bring the fiber to you. What we call dedicated fiber also is a type of technology that can deliver FTTP solutions. It’s just set up differently so that your connection runs on its own business network.
Related terms: EPON and GPON
Learn more about EPON and GPON in our Tech Terms Glossary.
SLA: Service Level Agreement
Official definition: A service level agreement (SLA) is a contract that binds a service provider and a customer together, while outlining quality, availability and responsibilities.
What it really means: You have a partner in technology – and one that’s ready to stand behind their product. At Midco, keeping our customers connected is one of our top priorities. That’s why we continuously augment our network to provide the necessary capacity to achieve the performance guarantees in our SLA.
More Terms, More Official Definitions
EPON, CPE, IOT – the alphabet soup never ends. Continue your technology terminology education with our downloadable glossary.
Mitch Schenstad has a passion for building lasting relationships with customers – and as an Enterprise Account Executive, he gets to do this every day. Schenstad joined Midco as a SMB Sales Consultant in 2017 and became an Enterprise Account Executive in early 2019. A North Dakota native, Schenstad currently lives in Bismarck and helps state and local governments and educational organizations find solutions to meet their specific needs. He is also a member of Minot Young Professionals and a graduate of the Gitomer Learning Academy.
Mitch Schenstad has a passion for building lasting relationships with customers – and as an Enterprise Account Executive, he gets to do this every day. Schenstad joined Midco as a SMB Sales Consultant in 2017 and became an Enterprise Account Executive in early 2019. A North Dakota native, Schenstad currently lives in Bismarck and helps state and local governments and educational organizations find solutions to meet their specific needs. He is also a member of Minot Young Professionals and a graduate of the Gitomer Learning Academy.
1 Cisco.com
2 Network World: The OSI model explained: How to understand (and remember) the 7-layer network model, Q42018
