This book investigates how the proliferation of networked infrastructures creates fragmented urban landscapes that reinforce social and economic inequality. Authors Simon Marvin and Steve Graham utilize a multidisciplinary framework to analyze the intersection of technological mobility and urban development. They argue that the traditional concept of the integrated city is being replaced by a 'splintering' process, where premium network spaces are connected globally while marginalized areas are bypassed or disconnected. The text synthesizes urban theory, social science, and infrastructure studies to provide a comprehensive critique of contemporary metropolitan evolution.

Experts in urban studies and geography frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the relationship between infrastructure and social stratification. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in urban theory to fully grasp the authors' complex arguments.