MPLS is a WAN technology.
Historically, the two most popular wide area network (WAN) connectivity options have been multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and the internet. Unlike a Local Area Network (LAN), which connects devices within a limited geographic area like an office building or home, a WAN is designed to connect networks and devices over much larger distances, spanning cities, regions, or even countries.
MPLS is inherently built for this purpose. It provides a mechanism for efficiently forwarding network traffic over a service provider's backbone infrastructure between different, often geographically dispersed, locations of an organization. This makes it a suitable technology for establishing private, high-performance connections between headquarters, branch offices, data centers, and other remote sites that form a company's WAN.
Here's a quick comparison based on the core function related to the question:
| Feature | LAN (Local Area Network) | WAN (Wide Area Network) | MPLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geographic Scope | Limited (building, campus) | Large (cities, countries) | Large (connecting remote sites) |
| Primary Use | Connecting local devices (PCs, printers) | Connecting separate LANs over distance | Providing backbone for WAN connections |
| Technology | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | MPLS, Internet, Dedicated Lines, SD-WAN | A specific forwarding mechanism for WANs |
As confirmed by its historical positioning as a key WAN connectivity option alongside the internet, MPLS facilitates communication and data exchange between remote networks, fitting the definition and purpose of a Wide Area Network technology.
