How is the Internet relevant to e-commerce?

The Internet allows people from all over the world to get connected inexpensively and
reliably. As a technical infrastructure, it is a global collection of networks, connected
to share information using a common set of protocols Also, as a vast network of
people and information, the Internet is an enabler for e-commerce as it allows businesses
to showcase and sell their products and services online and gives potential

customers, prospects, and business partners access to information about these
businesses and their products and services that would lead to purchase.
Before the Internet was utilized for commercial purposes, companies used private
networks-such as the EDI or Electronic Data Interchange-to transact business with
each other. That was the early form of e-commerce. However, installing and maintaining
private networks was very expensive. With the Internet, e-commerce spread
rapidly because of the lower costs involved and because the Internet is based on
open standards