What is the term for a network that spans multiple countries, such as the Internet?

The correct answer is the term that describes a network spanning multiple countries, such as the Internet, is commonly referred to as a Global Area Network (GAN). This designation emphasizes the expansive reach of such networks, which can cover vast geographic areas that include many different nations and regions.

Global Area Networks are designed to facilitate communication and data transfer across the globe, connecting various local networks and users, regardless of their physical location. This is particularly significant in today’s interconnected world, where businesses and individuals require constant access to resources and information from different parts of the world.

While Wide Area Networks (WANs) also cover large geographical areas, they are typically more regionally focused and may not necessarily extend across multiple countries in the same manner that a Global Area Network does. Local Area Networks (LANs) and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are much more limited in scope, operating within local premises or specific cities, making them unsuitable for describing global connectivity such as that of the Internet.