Fog computing has become an attractive framework for enhancing the performance of cloud-based services by bringing computational devices closer to the users’ applications. It caters to the time-sensitive applications by improving the delay and the Quality of Service (QoS). The appropriate placement of the fog nodes, therefore, is crucial for the optimal network coverage and connectivity with effective resource usage. This work provides an improved strategy for the placement of fog nodes using the Jaya optimization algorithm in order to ensure that all nodes form a maximally connected network for efficient communication among the edge devices. The proposed method analyses the weighted sum fitness function that encompasses network coverage, inter-node connectivity, delay, and bandwidth constraints. A simulation study demonstrates that better placement yields improved network performance and reduces resource wastage while ensuring seamless user connectivity. The findings exhibit the successful creation of a robust and scalable fog-edge computing infrastructure for better resource management and users’ experience.