Why Is Low Latency Internet Connection Critical for a Mining Pool’s Efficiency?

Low latency is critical because it ensures that miners receive the latest block template and submit their shares quickly. If a miner is working on an outdated block template due to high latency, any work they complete will be invalid (a "stale share") once the new block is found.

Furthermore, if the pool itself finds a block, low latency ensures the block is broadcast to the network rapidly, minimizing the chance of another pool finding the next block first.