What is a Network?
Many Merchant Banks and Processors talk about their credit card networks. These can be everything from a real network owned and utilized by the Processor, to utilizing the 800 services of AT&T, Sprint, or MCI. Some Processors use private networks such as CompuServe to move their transactions, while others use pseudo-networks put together by wholesales of the major networks' leased lines.
Electronic Merchant Systems Payment Processing Glossary :
Defining key payment processing and merchant services industry terms to help business owners make better decisions.