Why did they call local area network local?
A LAN or local area network is a computer network that includes
computers in the local area. At my work location, there have been
local area networks that serve the building. About 12 years ago,
they connected our local area network to 5 or 6 other of our
buildings located a mile or two away, and it was not local,
anymore: It was then a wide area network, or WAN.