SoftBank Plans 75 Billion Euros in AI Infrastructure Investment Across France
- Sara Montes de Oca
- May 31
- 2 min read
Japan's SoftBank Group plans to invest 45 billion euros ($53 billion) over the next five years to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, with the commitment forming part of a broader 75-billion-euro ($87 billion) program to deploy 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in the country, the company said Sunday.
The initial phase of the buildout targets 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the northern Hauts-de-France region by 2031, with sites planned in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank described the commitment as its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date.
"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," SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement. "SoftBank is proud to make this major commitment to France. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe."
The investment plans are scheduled to be formally announced on Monday. As part of the buildout, SoftBank said it would partner with French engineering company Schneider Electric to develop a large-scale industrial production cluster in Dunkirk.
The announcement comes as Europe works to narrow a significant gap with the United States and China in AI infrastructure capacity. High energy costs across the continent have emerged as a central obstacle, with prices rising further amid the U.S.-Iran war, according to energy market analysts.
Power consumption demands from large-scale data centers make siting decisions highly sensitive to local electricity pricing. Experts say data center projects are likely to concentrate in parts of Europe where power costs are lower, creating diverging outcomes for different countries and regions.
SoftBank's deepening AI infrastructure push reflects the company's broader positioning around the technology sector. The company holds a stake in Arm Holdings, whose chip designs are used in AI servers and data centers powered by Nvidia systems. SoftBank has also plowed more than $30 billion into OpenAI, with its investment gains in that company totaling $45 billion in the year ended March.
SoftBank shares have climbed more than 70% in 2026 so far, reflecting investor confidence that the company's AI infrastructure bets will generate returns.
France's selection as the site for SoftBank's European buildout underscores the competitive dynamic taking shape across the continent, as individual nations court large-scale technology investment with promises of industrial capacity and skilled labor. Whether Europe's energy cost challenges will constrain the pace of deployment — even for projects already announced — remains a central question for the region's AI ambitions.
