What is the primary difference between a public and private network?

The primary difference between a public and private network lies in who owns and maintains the network. A public network, such as the internet, is open for anyone to access and is generally maintained by various organizations or entities without restrictions on usage. People use public networks freely without needing to obtain permission or pay a fee for access, although there may be rules and regulations governing usage.

On the other hand, a private network is typically owned and maintained by a specific organization or individual, who has control over who can access the network. This allows for heightened security and privacy since only authorized users can connect to the private network. Organizations often use private networks to safeguard sensitive information and manage internal communications.

The other options touch on features that can vary within both public and private networks, such as speed of connection, user accessibility, and data transmission methods; however, these features do not fundamentally define the differences in ownership and maintenance responsibilities that clearly distinguish public from private networks.