SoftBank Announces Up to €75 Billion Investment in French Data Centers

SoftBank has announced plans to invest up to €75 billion (approximately $88 billion) to develop data center infrastructure in France. The investment aims to establish AI data hub facilities as the company expands its operations beyond the United States.

According to the firm, the goal is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity. The project represents a significant commitment to building out digital infrastructure in Europe.

The reported investment figures vary slightly by currency in source coverage, with TechCrunch reporting the commitment as up to €75 billion and Nikkei Asia characterizing it as an $88 billion plan. Both outlets identify the initiative as focused on data center development in France.

The expansion into France marks a strategic geographic diversification for SoftBank, which has previously concentrated much of its infrastructure investment activity in the United States. The planned facilities are described as AI data hubs, reflecting the growing demand for computing infrastructure to support artificial intelligence applications.

The 5 gigawatts of additional capacity outlined in the announcement would represent a substantial increase in data center infrastructure. The project scope encompasses both development and operation of the facilities.

No right-leaning sources reported on this story.

The announcement signals continued investment interest in European digital infrastructure. The specific timeline for the investment deployment and facility construction was not detailed in the available source reports.