---
title: "E-commerce and internet inter-relationship"
subject: "Internet and Intranet"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/internet_and_intranet:ecommerce-internet-relationship"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/ecommerce-internet-relationship
site: BCT Engineering
---

# E-commerce and internet inter-relationship

Internet and Intranet · Chapter 7: Internet and Intranet Applications

- Asked in: 2073 Magh, 5 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/ecommerce-internet-relationship
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/chapter-7

## Question

Explain the inter-relationship of e-commerce with internet.

## Short answer

E-commerce depends on the internet as its global network infrastructure for web storefronts, secure transactions, and communication. In turn, e-commerce drives demand for bandwidth, data centres, and security standards, becoming a major commercial driver of internet growth.

## Answer

**E-commerce** is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of money and data, using electronic networks, mainly the internet. The internet is the base on which modern e-commerce works, and e-commerce is one of the most important uses of the internet.

#### How e-commerce depends on the internet

- **Infrastructure.** The internet gives the global network (TCP/IP, routers, ISPs) that links buyers, sellers, banks and delivery partners at any time.
- **Web.** Online shops, catalogues and forms run on HTTP, HTML, web servers and databases; users shop through browsers.
- **Communication.** E-mail, chat and push notifications handle orders, confirmations and support.
- **Security.** SSL/TLS, HTTPS, digital certificates and firewalls protect card and personal data. Payment gateways connect to banks over the internet.
- **Marketing.** Search engines, social media and online ads reach customers.
- **Global reach, low cost.** A seller can reach any country without a physical shop, and 24x7 operation is possible.
- **Data and integration.** Web services and APIs link stores with inventory, accounting and logistics.

#### How e-commerce affects the internet

- It drives demand for bandwidth, data centres, CDNs and secure protocols.
- It created new services: online payment, digital wallets, cloud hosting, mobile apps.
- It encouraged security standards (PCI-DSS) and electronic transactions law.

```text
 Customer --browser--> Internet --> Web store
    ^                                   |
    |                        Payment gateway <--> Bank
    |                                   |
    +------ order status (e-mail) ------+
```

Examples: Daraz, Amazon, and eSewa and Khalti payments in Nepal. Without the internet, e-commerce cannot work, and without e-commerce the internet would lose a major commercial driver.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What role does the internet play in e-commerce?
   A. It is optional because e-commerce can work without networks
   B. It is the base: it gives the global network and web on which online shops, payments and communication run
   C. It only provides advertising
   D. It only stores product images
   Answer: B. E-commerce uses electronic networks, mainly the internet, so without the internet it cannot work. (Key point: Internet as base of e-commerce)

2. Which technologies protect card and personal data in e-commerce over the internet?
   A. SMTP and POP3
   B. SSL/TLS, HTTPS, digital certificates and firewalls
   C. DNS and DHCP
   D. FTP and Telnet
   Answer: B. SSL/TLS, HTTPS, certificates and firewalls secure transactions, and payment gateways connect to banks over the internet. (Key point: Security)

3. How does e-commerce influence the internet in return?
   A. It reduces demand for bandwidth
   B. It drives demand for bandwidth, data centres and CDNs, and created online payment, wallets and security standards like PCI-DSS
   C. It replaces TCP/IP
   D. It makes the web unnecessary
   Answer: B. E-commerce is a major commercial driver, creating demand for infrastructure and new services and standards. (Key point: E-commerce affects internet)

## Related in Internet and Intranet

- [IRC, FoIP; e-commerce building blocks](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Airc-foip-ecommerce-blocks) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 7