SoftBank Group has announced plans to invest up to €75 billion (approximately $87 billion) to expand its data center capacity in France, aiming to develop and operate an additional 5 gigawatts of data center capacity.
Expansion Plans in France
The investment will focus on building data centers in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain, with the aim of delivering 3.1 gigawatts of capacity to the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. This move is part of SoftBank's strategy to strengthen its presence in the European AI infrastructure market.
Largest AI Investment in Europe
SoftBank, both an investor in and customer of OpenAI, stated that this initiative represents its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date. French economic minister Roland Lescure commented on the announcement, calling it a "testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain."
Environmental Concerns in the U.S.
In the United States, data center construction faces opposition due to environmental concerns and potential impacts on the electrical grid and utility prices. Despite these challenges, SoftBank previously announced plans to build a data center in Ohio, which will be powered by a new 9.2 gigawatt natural gas plant.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/30/softbank-says-it-will-invest-up-to-e75-billion-to-build-french-data-centers/
