Modern web application programming generally involves using third-party services and their associated APIs. It's beneficial to know where these APIs are located, and what the latency is. Are they in the same data center, or are they on the other side of the planet? Unless you've discovered some exciting new physics, then light only travels so fast.
Today, almost all intercontinental data travels by fiber optic cables. Satellites are rarely used anymore, as the latency is high, especially for geostationary orbits. Many of these cables are under the oceans, and are hard to fix. If you rely on an API on a different continent, not only can it slow you down, but it also exposes you to additional risk. You probably shouldn't build an important ...
