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---
description: Like Amazon and Yahoo, auction website eBay is one of those old guard Internet companies that&#x27;s still having a big impact today
title: Everything to Know About eBay in One Graphic
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---

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# Everything to Know About eBay in One Graphic


by [Heather Jones](/author/heather-jones/) and [Jack Linshi](/author/jack-linshi/)

Sep 2, 2015 4:42 PM CUT

by [Heather Jones](/author/heather-jones/) and [Jack Linshi](/author/jack-linshi/)

Sep 2, 2015 4:42 PM CUT

Like Amazon and Yahoo, auction website eBay is one of those old guard Internet companies that’s still having a big impact today. On Thursday, eBay celebrates its 20th birthday, meaning it’s a great time to look back at the site’s history.

Check out the infographic below for more on how eBay started and what’s happened since, —. There’s fun facts, too: Did you know, for instance, a pair of shoes is sold every two seconds in the U.S.?

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6fdb0ee7543b625a/69886206524fc0d249df45a1/ebay1.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

_Read next:_ [_The Small-Scale Story Behind eBay’s Big Bucks_](http://time.com/4013672/ebay-founded-story/?iid=time%5Freadnext "undefined")

[_Download TIME’s mobile app for iOS to have your world explained wherever you go_](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-mobile/id328218429 "undefined")

### This Is What The Internet Looks Like

![<span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>2003</strong></span> A visualization of routing paths of the Internet on July 8, 2003, shows how the Internet was predominantly overrun by <span style="color:blue;"><strong>North America</strong></span>. There was less connectivity in <span style="color:green;"><strong>Europe</strong></span> and <span style="color:red;"><strong>Asia-Pacific</strong></span>, and the least connectivity in <span style="color:orange;"><strong>Africa</strong></span> and <span style="color:purple;"><strong>Latin America</strong></span>. 
<br><br>
Here's an example: the center of the large <span style="color:blue;"><strong>North America</strong></span> starburst towards the top-left corner represents an IP address owned by Verizon Business. The lines link to the IP addresses of Verizon Business users.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ef18c4d2957a8be/69885a5f5f570fb165b1c634/opte1-barrett-lyon.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

2003 A visualization of routing paths of the Internet on July 8, 2003, shows how the Internet was predominantly overrun by North America. There was less connectivity in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and the least connectivity in Africa and Latin America. Here's an example: the center of the large North America starburst towards the top-left corner represents an IP address owned by Verizon Business. The lines link to the IP addresses of Verizon Business users. Barrett Lyon

![<span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>2006</strong></span> Three years later, on July 8, 2006, there is increased connectivity in <span style="color:green;"><strong>Europe</strong></span>, while Internet routing paths are beginning to become more visible in <span style="color:red;"><strong>Asia-Pacific</strong></span> and <span style="color:purple;"><strong>Latin America</strong></span>.
<br><br>
Here's an example: the center of <span style="color:purple;"><strong>Latin America</strong></span> starburst towards the top-left corner represents UNINET Mexico \(Telemex\), which is a large Internet Service Provider \(ISP\) in Mexico.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcea0994711e0be97/69885a5f8e0601c16c461547/opte2-barrett-lyon.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

2006 Three years later, on July 8, 2006, there is increased connectivity in Europe, while Internet routing paths are beginning to become more visible in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Here's an example: the center of Latin America starburst towards the top-left corner represents UNINET Mexico (Telemex), which is a large Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Mexico. Barrett Lyon

![<span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>2009</strong></span> By July 8, 2009, large networks of Internet routing paths in <span style="color:green;"><strong>Europe</strong></span>, <span style="color:red;"><strong>Asia-Pacific</strong></span> and <span style="color:purple;"><strong>Latin America</strong></span> have become visible. Connectivity in <span style="color:orange;"><strong>Africa</strong></span> remained relatively low.
<br><br>
Here's an example: the center of the big <span style="color:red;"><strong>Asia-Pacific</strong></span> starburst at 4 o'clock represents the China Education and Research Network Center, which is a massive state-funded network universities across the nation.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf6fbf68ace45c7ff/69885a600b72e325586e4dd7/opte3-barrett-lyon.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

2009 By July 8, 2009, large networks of Internet routing paths in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America have become visible. Connectivity in Africa remained relatively low. Here's an example: the center of the big Asia-Pacific starburst at 4 o'clock represents the China Education and Research Network Center, which is a massive state-funded network universities across the nation. Barrett Lyon

![<span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>2012</strong></span> As the Internet grows, the center of the map becomes more dense with connections. That's because more users are connecting to more ISPs, which, when mapped, results in more lines.
<br><br>
Here's an example: the center of the <span style="color:orange;"><strong>Africa</strong></span> starburst at 4 o'clock represents Telecom Egypt \(TE Data\), an ISP in Egypt that had 1.2 million customers in 2012.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e60ba6bcdc429ce/69885a60e53aba2a7b4de8c2/opte4-barrett-lyon.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

2012 As the Internet grows, the center of the map becomes more dense with connections. That's because more users are connecting to more ISPs, which, when mapped, results in more lines. Here's an example: the center of the Africa starburst at 4 o'clock represents Telecom Egypt (TE Data), an ISP in Egypt that had 1.2 million customers in 2012. Barrett Lyon

![2015 Strong growth of Latin America networks through the years has resulted in an Internet that is no longer North America-centric.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt11f6f2ba336d3a87/69885a9d0b72e308646e4e1e/0aopte5-barrett-lyon2.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

July 11, 2015 Strong growth of Latin America networks through the years has resulted in an Internet that is no longer North America-centric. Barrett Lyon

![<span style="color:red;"><strong>Korea Telecom</strong></span>, South Korea's largest internet provider, is a small part of the internet, but a closer look shows it is quite extensive.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta89b5f87976800b0/69885a9ce53aba36344de935/20150711-korea-telecom-11.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Korea Telecom, South Korea's largest internet provider, is a small part of the internet, but a closer look shows it is quite extensive. Barrett Lyon


![A closer look at <span style="color:red;"><strong>Korea Telecom</strong></span>](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt117115e51d70174d/69885a9b5f570f5416b1c6b9/20150711-korea-telecom-3.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

A closer look at Korea Telecom Barrett Lyon

![An even closer look at <span style="color:red;"><strong>Korea Telecom</strong></span>](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt98b070c19f17963f/69885a9ce53ababce24de931/20150711-korea-telecom-4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

An even closer look at Korea Telecom Barrett Lyon

![The closest look at <span style="color:red;"><strong>Korea Telecom</strong></span> shows the many individual IP addresses that together make up an essential part of the internet.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfaff623eb2c54a69/69885a9ba988ca04876b36c6/20150711-korea-telecom-2.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

The closest look at Korea Telecom shows the many individual IP addresses that together make up an essential part of the internet. Barrett Lyon

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