This study examines the impact of digital infrastructure construction on air pollution in China, which has experienced substantial economic growth since the reform and opening-up period. While this growth has contributed to notable environmental and resource-related challenges, digital infrastructure, as a cornerstone of “new infrastructure”, provides significant support for the digital economy. We analyze the relationship between digital infrastructure and air pollution using a two-way fixed effects model, employing Chinese provincial panel data from 2012 to 2020. Our findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between digital infrastructure and air pollution. The influencing mechanisms suggest that economic growth and urbanization mediate this relationship, with economic growth having a negative effect and urbanization a positive one. The environmental impact of digital infrastructure also varies based on whether a city is a municipality, its regional location (eastern versus non-eastern). Finally, policy recommendations are offered to promote green and sustainable development in developing countries.