SoftBank Bets Big on AI: €75 Billion to Build Massive French Data Hub

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SoftBank Group has committed up to €75 billion to develop 5 gigawatts of artificial intelligence data center capacity in France, its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. The pledge was announced at the 2026 Choose France summit in Paris, where President Emmanuel Macron secured commitments of tens of billions in foreign investment. SoftBank cited France’s low-carbon grid, industrial land, and engineering talent as primary factors behind its selection. A Phased Buildout Across Hauts-de-France The first phase covers €45 billion to deliver 3.1 GW of capacity across three sites in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. SoftBank plans to add further locations across France as the program extends toward the full 5 GW target, working with SB Energy and other strategic partners on development. SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son framed the move as part of a broader global infrastructure push. He linked the move to AI’s next phase. “AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society… France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.” Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group The announcement extends SoftBank’s aggressive AI investment push. This comes after the firm pivoted away from blockchain and signaled an expanded AI venture strategy in recent quarters. Key Industrial Partners Join SoftBank’s AI Expansion SoftBank will co-develop a manufacturing cluster with Schneider Electric at the Port of Dunkirk. The site will house two facilities. SoftBank will operate one to produce data center enclosures. Schneider Electric will run the other to assemble power modules. Both companies aim to build a more localized and resilient supply chain for AI hardware across France and Europe. EDF will support the Bouchain data center site by supplying low-carbon electricity from a repurposed former industrial asset. As projections for AI energy consumption continue to climb, access to sovereign clean power is becoming a decisive advantage. This is especially true for European data center markets. SoftBank expects the program to generate thousands of jobs in engineering, robotics, energy systems, and operations. The company will also establish research partnerships with local universities and training institutions. With AI venture funding reaching $242 billion in Q1 2026 alone, Europe’s AI infrastructure buildout is moving fast. France is positioning itself early to anchor the continent’s computing capacity.

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