What is Core Network, Metropolitan Area Network, and Access Network?

The basic structure of communication network includes Backbone Network, Core Network, Metropolitan Area Network, and Access Network. The Access Network types of wireless access, and wired access.

To be simply, Access network connects end-user devices to carriers provider. Wireless access is what we call mobile transmission, 4g, 5g. Fiber to the home(FTTH) is the wired access network.

A bearer network is the collection of devices and underlying infrastructure used to transmit data from one location to another.

The core network (also known as the “backbone network”) is the heart of a communication network, and provides connectivity and routing services between different parts of the network and controls the flow of traffic between these parts. 

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic region of the size of a metropolitan area. 

Let's use the express delivery method to help understand.

Packages are sent from city A to city B. First, the courier branch collects all the packages and sends them to the next station. The branch is the same as the access network.

When the packages arrives at the courier headquarters in city A, it is the core network, which is responsible for coordinating the distribution and sending the packages to different cities.

The long-distance highway between courier headquarters in city A and courier headquarters in city B is the transmission network. The bearer network is the transportation route for package delivery.

HYC Co., Ltd provides full series of WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexer) for communication networks, eg. DWDM (TFF/AWG) for bearer network, DWDM MUX/DEMUX/OADM for Core Network, CWDM/CCWDM for Metro Area Network, PON WDM/CWDM/LWDN/MWDM for Access Network.