How is a metropolitan area network (MAN) best described?

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is best described as a high-speed connectivity solution that is limited to a specific city. This type of network interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs) within a city, allowing organizations and users to share resources and data over a broader area than a single building, but not spanning across large geographic distances like a wide area network (WAN).

The defining characteristic of a MAN is its capacity to facilitate fast connections between various locations within a metropolitan area, which can include towns, cities, and suburbs while maintaining high bandwidth. This makes it ideal for businesses and entities that need reliable connectivity for data exchange and communication across a localized region.

In contrast, other options describe different networking scopes or capabilities. Connecting multiple devices within a single building pertains to local area networks (LANs), which serve much smaller geographic areas. Covering large distances between cities relates to WANs, designed for extensive coverage, while bandwidth-limited connections for intercity communication do not effectively capture the high-speed capabilities typically associated with MANs. Therefore, the correct choice accurately reflects the purpose and characteristics of a metropolitan area network.