SoftBank invests billions in French AI data centers

SoftBank plans to invest up to 75 billion euros in AI data centers in France. With this, the Japanese technology and investment company aims to build and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity.

The first phase consists of an investment of 45 billion euros for 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region. The planned locations are Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank aims to deliver this initial capacity by 2031 at the latest.

According to SoftBank, this is the company's largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. The investment is intended to help France develop into a European hub for AI computing. The French government explicitly links the plan to technological sovereignty and the ambition to keep a larger share of the AI ​​value chain within Europe.

An important component is the collaboration with Schneider Electric in Dunkirk. SoftBank and Schneider plan to build an industrial production cluster there for data center infrastructure, including enclosures and power modules. EDF is involved in the Bouchain site, where former industrial sites can be repurposed for digital infrastructure.

The news fits into the global race for AI computing. Large AI models require enormous amounts of power, chips, cooling, and data center capacity. Moreover, SoftBank is an investor in and a customer of OpenAI, making additional infrastructure strategically important.

This is relevant for Europe because AI sovereignty revolves not only around models or regulations but also around physical infrastructure. Those without access to sufficient compute find it more difficult to scale up their own AI products, research, and industrial applications.

At the same time, energy, grid capacity, and environmental impact will remain key points of discussion. Gigawatt-scale data centers can generate jobs and infrastructure but also put pressure on power grids, permits, and local communities.