SoftBank to Invest Up to 14 Trillion Yen in 5 GW French AI Data Center
The investment makes France SoftBank's primary European AI infrastructure hub and signals a shift of large-scale data center construction toward regions with state-backed fast-track permitting and abundant low-carbon power.
Reporting from 1 sources: GIGAZINE.
SoftBank Group announced plans to invest up to 750 billion euros (about 14 trillion yen) to build 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France, marking its largest European AI infrastructure investment. The first phase, worth 45 billion euros (about 8.36 trillion yen), targets completion by 2031, with 3.1 GW of capacity across three sites in the Hauts-de-France region: Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank is partnering with Schneider Electric to develop a large industrial cluster at the Port of Dunkirk to support the rollout. The company said additional sites in other French regions may follow, potentially raising total investment to the 75 billion euro ceiling. French Economy Minister Laurent Lescure called the decision a result of President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to position France as a major AI investment destination, citing access to reliable low-carbon power, a strong digital ecosystem, and streamlined permitting. EDF CEO Bernard Fontana said the Bouchain project demonstrates France's ability to attract large-scale digital infrastructure with competitive, low-carbon electricity. SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son stated that countries building AI infrastructure will shape the future of technology and society.
The first phase of SoftBank's French AI data center build-out will concentrate 3.1 GW of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region, with sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. The company said it is working with Schneider Electric to create a prefabricated power module industrial cluster at the Port of Dunkirk to accelerate deployment and improve energy efficiency. SoftBank's announcement follows a pattern of large tech companies seeking locations with reliable, low-carbon electricity and government support for fast permitting. French Economy Minister Laurent Lescure explicitly tied the decision to Macron administration policies aimed at making France a destination for AI investment across the full value chain. EDF CEO Bernard Fontana noted the Bouchain project repurposes former industrial land. SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son framed the investment as part of a broader competition among nations to build the physical infrastructure that will underpin the next era of AI. The company did not disclose specific power purchase agreements or timeline details beyond the 2031 first-phase target.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.