Which solution meets these requirements?

Explanations:

Launching all EC2 instances in the same Availability Zone (AZ) reduces data transfer costs because intra-AZ data transfer is free. Using a placement group with cluster strategy optimizes network performance by placing instances close together, which enhances latency-sensitive applications and improves throughput.

Launching instances in different Availability Zones can lead to higher data transfer charges due to inter-AZ data transfer costs. Although a partition placement group can help in high-availability scenarios, it does not reduce latency or optimize throughput as effectively as a cluster strategy in a single AZ.

While deploying an Auto Scaling group in different Availability Zones can improve availability, it does not address the need for minimizing data transfer costs effectively. The network utilization target may lead to instances being launched across multiple AZs, resulting in higher data transfer charges.

Similar to option C, using an Auto Scaling group with a step scaling policy in different Availability Zones does not minimize data transfer charges. It focuses on scaling based on demand rather than cost-effective networking, leading to potential increased charges due to inter-AZ data transfers.