Paris, June 2026 – SoftBank Group has announced plans to invest €45 billion ($53 billion) over the next five years in artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, as part of a wider €75 billion programme to roll out 5 GW of AI data center capacity.
The initial phase will see 3.1 GW of AI data centers built in the Hauts‑de‑France region by 2031, including sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank confirmed the investment during a press briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron, with CEO Masayoshi Son describing the initiative as the company’s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe.
Son emphasized that the project will position France as a European hub for AI compute capacity, noting that the U.S. and China are advancing rapidly in the sector. “Europe, Japan, Asia have to also go fast, not to be left out,” he said. SoftBank will partner with Schneider Electric to develop a large‑scale industrial production cluster in Dunkirk.
The announcement comes as SoftBank overtakes Toyota to become Japan’s most valuable company by market capitalization. Its shares have surged more than 70% in 2026, driven by expectations that AI infrastructure investments will deliver significant returns.
SoftBank’s fortunes are closely tied to the AI boom, with major stakes in Arm Holdings, whose chip designs power AI servers, and in OpenAI, where SoftBank has invested more than $30 billion. Gains from OpenAI alone totaled $45 billion in the year ended March.
Europe’s high energy costs remain a challenge for large‑scale data center projects, but SoftBank’s commitment signals confidence in France’s role in the global AI arms race. The investment is expected to accelerate Europe’s efforts to expand compute capacity and strengthen its position in next‑generation technology.
