Which factor can contribute to higher latency on a network?

Higher latency on a network is primarily influenced by the distance between the source and destination. When data packets travel over a network, they must traverse physical mediums and potentially multiple devices, such as routers and switches, which can introduce delays. As the distance increases, the time it takes for signals to travel also increases due to the inherent limitations of the speed of light and electronic signaling.

In practical terms, when data needs to travel long distances, such as from one city to another or even across continents, it will take longer for that information to reach its intended recipient. Therefore, the longer the distance the data must cover, the higher the latency experienced in the network.

Other factors like higher bandwidth availability can improve the throughput and efficiency of data transfers but do not inherently cause latency. Similarly, while cloud services might add some degree of latency due to additional routing and processing, the core issue of distance remains a predominant factor. Increased user demand can lead to congestion and affect performance, but the fundamental challenge of distance is more directly related to latency issues.