Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to its destination and back again. When internet traffic is heavily concentrated through Chicago, it can cause several issues:
- Slower Speeds: Just like a traffic jam on a highway, if too much data tries to pass through Chicago at the same time, it can slow down the internet speed for users. This means that web pages take longer to load, and streaming videos might pause frequently to buffer.
- Increased Delay: For activities that need quick responses, like online gaming or video calls, even a small delay can be noticeable. Routing data through a busy hub like Chicago can add extra time to the journey, leading to delays that affect the quality of these activities.
- Potential for Outages: If something goes wrong with the infrastructure in Chicago (like a power outage or equipment failure), it could disrupt the internet for many people who rely on that hub, as their data has no alternative route to travel.