What is infrastructure? Traditionally, the term has referred to assets such as power grids, roads, and bridges. But the definition is expanding, thanks to advances in technology and a range of newer assets and services: fiber-optic networks, data centers, and EV charging stations, to name a few. In “The infrastructure moment,” McKinsey Senior Partners Alastair Green, Ishaan Nangia, and Nicola Sandri break down the growing definition:
- Traditional infrastructure begins with physical assets—durable, capital-intensive structures.
- Infrastructure with series acts as an ongoing service system, not a one-time construction project.
- Infrastructure with technology is “smart” with digital layers, generating data and intelligence.
- Infrastructure ecosystems make up entire networks of energy, mobility, commerce, and more.
With this evolving understanding of what infrastructure comprises, stakeholders can take decisive actions to meet the challenges and opportunities emerging from this complex, competitive infrastructure moment. Explore these insights for more.
Data centers: The race to power AI
Scaling bigger, faster, cheaper data centers with smarter designs
‘The inflection point has arrived’: Waymo’s vision for the future of mobility
Accelerating the delivery of tech-focused capital projects
Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional