I'm from South Africa. I'm not sure if they cache Google+ here (I know they cache YouTube) or use a CDN, but I've found Google+ to do exactly this. It's slow, and sometimes stuff just doesn't load (especially images).
It's strange, because Google+ is the first social network I've seen that actually promotes itself on my campus (large installs with lifesize Angry Birds).
Also from SA, and while Plus is fine for me, Youtube has become unusable. For years it was perfect but now I rarely get through a five minute movie without it going belly up. Vimeo and others, no problem whatsoever.
It's strange, because Google+ is the first social network I've seen that actually promotes itself on my campus (large installs with lifesize Angry Birds).