Quick Facts
- SoftBank will invest up to €75 billion ($87 billion) to build 5 gigawatts of data center capacity in France by 2031
- First phase includes €45 billion for 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region, with facilities expected online by 2028
- The investment stems from personal diplomacy between French President Emmanuel Macron and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son during April 2026 meetings in Tokyo
SoftBank Group announced May 30 it will spend up to €75 billion to expand data center capacity in France. The Japanese conglomerate plans to develop 5 gigawatts of additional AI data center capacity across the country.
The first phase involves a €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. SoftBank will build data centers in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain, with the first facilities expected online by 2028.
The deal emerged from direct negotiations between French President Emmanuel Macron and SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son. The two leaders reached a preliminary agreement during a dinner in Tokyo in April 2026.
“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,” Son said in a statement.
SoftBank will partner with French companies on the project. Schneider Electric will work on the Dunkirk facility, while EDF will collaborate on the Bouchain data center. The partnerships aim to create hubs for AI infrastructure and robotics manufacturing.
The investment represents SoftBank’s largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe. The company has been expanding its global data center footprint as AI companies race to secure computing power. SoftBank is also working on the $500 billion Stargate initiative with OpenAI and Oracle to build US data centers.
French Economic Minister Roland Lescure called the investment a testament to France’s position in the AI value chain. He cited France’s electrical grid reliability and skilled workforce as key advantages.
SoftBank’s annual net profit quadrupled to over $32 billion by mid-May 2026, driven by AI-related investments. However, questions remain about the company’s ability to finance all its ambitious projects. SoftBank scaled back plans for a $10 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake after facing creditor hesitation.
The French data center project adds to global competition for gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure. European developers face tighter land, grid, and permitting constraints compared to other regions.
Read more: SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers