SoftBank plans up to €75 billion AI data center network in France in major Europe infrastructure push

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SoftBank Group has announced plans to invest up to €75 billion ($87–87.5 billion) in building a large-scale artificial intelligence data center network in France, in what is being described as one of the largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe, according to the company.

The Japanese technology investment group said the project will begin with an initial €45 billion phase, with total investment potentially rising to €75 billion as the network expands. The development is focused on building AI-optimized data centers with a projected total capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW).

The first phase is expected to deliver around 3.1 GW of capacity by 2031, with an additional 2 GW planned in later expansion stages. The scale of the project places it among the largest planned AI infrastructure deployments globally, with energy demand comparable to multiple large power generation facilities.

SoftBank said the facilities will be developed across several sites in France, including the Hauts-de-France region in the north, with confirmed locations such as Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. Additional sites are expected to be identified as the project expands.

The initiative involves major industrial partners, including Schneider Electric, which is expected to provide electrical systems and modular infrastructure support, and Électricité de France (EDF), which will contribute energy infrastructure and is expected to support the conversion of at least one former power plant site into a data center facility.

France was selected as the location for the project due to its relatively stable and low-carbon energy mix, heavily supported by nuclear power. The country has also positioned itself as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence development in Europe, with strong government backing under President Emmanuel Macron’s “Choose France” investment initiative.

SoftBank’s strategy also reflects broader global ambitions to scale AI infrastructure across multiple regions, including ongoing and planned investments in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. The company has previously signaled major data center projects in Ohio in the U.S., as well as discussions in Abu Dhabi.

Industry reports indicate that SoftBank is expected to rely significantly on debt financing and infrastructure partnerships rather than funding the entire project directly. Under this structure, the company is likely to act as a lead investor and strategic anchor rather than sole financier.

The announcement comes as global competition for artificial intelligence infrastructure intensifies, with countries and corporations racing to secure computing capacity, energy supply, and data center dominance. Analysts say Europe has historically lagged behind the United States and China in AI infrastructure, but the France project could significantly shift that balance if fully executed.

However, experts have also raised concerns over the scale of energy demand, potential strain on national grids, environmental implications, and the financial risks associated with large debt-funded infrastructure expansion.

If completed as planned, the project would position France as one of the world’s largest AI computing hubs, powered largely by its nuclear energy infrastructure, marking a significant escalation in the global race to build the backbone of artificial intelligence systems.