No, typical communication satellites operate in geostationary orbit, 36,000 km high. Signal must go up that far, then down again. The earth's circumference is 4

No, typical communication satellites operate in geostationary orbit, 36,000 km high. Signal must go up that far, then down again. The earth's circumference is 40,000 km, so you've traveled more already (and yet, are still in the same area because I didn't count transmitting to another satellite -- which AFAIK is never done: the satellite transmits back down to somewhere where the data can be transmitted trough fiber). Assuming light travels at 2c/3 in fiber, it would still take less time for a signal to go around the equator back to the same spot than for it to arrive anywhere on earth if using a satellite link. Spacex's satellites are a game-changer because they sit in low orbit.