ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Internet area network

Okay kiddo, so you know how you can use the internet to watch videos, play games, and talk to your friends? Well, imagine if a lot of people in your neighborhood wanted to do those same things at the same time.

An internet area network (IAN) is like a big group of people who live close together, working together to share a big internet connection. This is like a playground where all of the kids play together and take turns on the swings and slides.

The IAN works by connecting all the houses in the neighborhood to one big network. This is like connecting all the kids together so they can play on the playground together. The people who live in the neighborhood all agree to share the cost of the big internet connection, just like all the parents might pitch in to pay for the playground equipment.

This makes sure that everyone has access to the internet, even if they can't afford a big fancy connection on their own. And because everyone shares the same internet, it can be faster and more stable than if each house had its own separate connection. This is like having all the kids take turns on the swings so no one gets too tired or has to wait too long to have a turn.

So that's basically what an internet area network is, a bunch of people working together to share a big internet connection so everyone can have fun online!
Related topics others have asked about: