SoftBank Group has revealed its intention to invest up to €75 billion (approximately $87 billion) in bolstering data center capabilities in France, positioning it as the company’s “largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe.” The Japanese investment firm shared that the initiative aims to establish and manage an additional five gigawatts of data center capacity throughout France. The initial phase will concentrate on locations in Dunkirk’s Loon-Plage area, Bosquel, and Bouchain, with a goal to provide 3.1 gigawatts of capacity to the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
SoftBank, which serves as both an investor in and client of OpenAI, highlighted that the expansion in France would play a vital role in its broader AI infrastructure strategy. While the rapid proliferation of data centers in the United States has raised concerns regarding environmental implications, energy consumption, and potential impacts on power networks and utility expenses, SoftBank remains committed to significant infrastructure undertakings. Previously, the company unveiled plans for a data center project in Ohio that would be powered by a new 9.2-gigawatt natural gas facility.
