According to best practices, what is the relationship between proximity to a regional Data Center and network latency?

The correct choice highlights a fundamental principle in network architecture: proximity to a data center typically results in lower latency. Latency refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. When users are close to a regional data center, data packets have a shorter distance to travel, which reduces the time it takes for that data to reach its destination and return, leading to lower latency.

This principle is vital in applications requiring real-time communication, such as VoIP services in Webex Calling, where timely delivery of audio and video packets is crucial for maintaining call quality and user experience. When data travels over longer distances, it is subjected to increased propagation delays, potentially resulting in noticeable latency that can affect the performance of time-sensitive applications.

In contrast, some of the other options suggest that distance does not affect latency or implies that greater distance might improve quality, which contradicts established networking principles. Additionally, stating that latency is solely influenced by bandwidth ignores the fact that both distance (or proximity) and bandwidth play significant roles in overall network performance. Thus, the emphasis on closeness to a regional data center being linked with lower latency aligns with standard best practices in optimizing network connectivity.