SoftBank just made a €75 billion (roughly $87 billion) statement. The Japanese tech behemoth announced plans to build massive French data centers, positioning itself as a serious player in AI infrastructure.
The first phase targets three locations: Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain. By 2031, these sites will deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity to the Hauts-de-France region alone.
This is SoftBank's biggest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date. The company is both an investor in and customer of OpenAI, so this move combines infrastructure expansion with positioning in the AI sector.
French economic minister Roland Lescure called the announcement a "testament to President Emmanuel Macron's ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain." France gains significant leverage in the global tech competition.
In the United States, data center construction faces serious backlash. Environmental groups have raised concerns about power consumption, grid strain, and utility prices. SoftBank is meanwhile laying groundwork for an Ohio facility powered by a brand-new 9.2 gigawatt natural gas plant.
The investment reflects how major technology companies are shaping global AI infrastructure. SoftBank has made France a central location for data center expansion, a $87 billion commitment with substantial implications for the industry.
