SoftBank pledges up to €75 bn for AI data centers in France

Japan's SoftBank Group has committed up to 75 billion euros to build a network of artificial intelligence data centers in France, marking the company's largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. The announcement was made alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the annual Choose France summit, where a record 93 billion euros in total foreign investment pledges were unveiled.

The SoftBank project aims to create up to five gigawatts of computing capacity across France. An initial phase, involving an investment of approximately 45 billion euros, will establish 3.1 gigawatts of data center capacity in the northern Hauts-de-France region by 2031. The first sites are planned for Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain.

Company founder Masayoshi Son said the decision followed direct discussions with Macron, citing France's national ambition in AI, its skilled workforce, and available industrial land as key factors. He specifically highlighted the country's low-carbon nuclear energy infrastructure as providing a stable and predictable power supply, a critical consideration for energy-intensive data centers.

French officials strongly endorsed the investment. Economy Minister Roland...