SoftBank Group plans to invest up to €75 billion [1] to develop and operate AI data-centre capacity in France.

The investment aims to strengthen Europe's artificial intelligence infrastructure, allowing the region to compete more effectively with the U.S. and Asia. This expansion is expected to create thousands of high-skill jobs across the country.

SoftBank intends to establish a total capacity of five GW [2] by 2031 [2]. The rollout will begin in northern France, where the company plans to build an initial tranche of facilities providing 3.1 GW [3].

The announcement coincided with the Choose France summit, where France secured a total of €93 billion [4] in investment pledges. While several reports cite the total SoftBank commitment as €75 billion [1], Reuters reported that SoftBank's share of the summit pledges was approximately half of the total, or roughly €46.5 billion [4].

This project represents a significant push to localize AI computing power within the European Union. By establishing these centres, SoftBank seeks to provide the necessary hardware, and energy infrastructure to support the growing demand for large-scale AI model training and deployment.

France has positioned itself as a primary hub for AI in Europe, utilizing these large-scale investments to attract global technology firms. The 2031 target for full capacity [2] suggests a long-term commitment to the French tech ecosystem, one that aligns with national goals of digital sovereignty and economic modernization.

“SoftBank plans to invest up to €75 billion to develop and operate five GW of AI data-centre capacity in France.”

This investment signals a strategic shift to diversify AI infrastructure away from North American dominance. By committing billions to French soil, SoftBank is betting on Europe's ability to regulate and grow its AI sector, while France leverages its energy grid and policy environment to become the continent's primary AI data hub.