Types of network
A network links computers so they can communicate and share data, printers and an internet connection. Networks differ in how far they reach and who is allowed in. Paper 1 asks most years for the part of a company’s private network that suppliers can use: the extranet.
By the end of this page you can
- Tell LAN, MAN, WAN and mobile networks apart
- Describe Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and hotspots
- Tell intranet, extranet and Internet apart
- Choose a network for a situation
Goals tick themselves off as you try the activities below.
Photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped, resized, JPEG q72.
One switch and its cables join a building’s computers into a local area network.
How often it shows up in past papers
All papers6 of 14 papers
Last 55 of 5 · 2019–2025
Paper 1 counts come from our past-paper bank of CSEC Information Technology Paper 1s. The last-5 row shows how often it came up in the five most recent papers.
Inside this topic
- Size and wirelessLocked
- Who can get in?Locked
- Key termsLocked
- Test yourselfmarkedLocked
- Practise for real · 2 past questionsLocked