SoftBank Group has committed €75 billion to build 5 gigabytes of data centers in France, its largest AI investment in Europe.
The pledge was announced at the Select France 2026 conference in Paris, where President Emmanuel Macron pledged to spend billions on foreign investment. SoftBank cited France’s low-carbon grid, industrial facilities, and technological innovation as key factors behind its selection.
Slow Construction Across the Hauts-de-France
The first phase involves €45 billion to provide 3.1 GW of power at three sites in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. SoftBank plans to add another site later. France when the program reaches the total goal of 5 GW, working with SB Energy and other development partners.
SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son framed this as one of the world’s largest financial institutions. He linked this move to the next phase of AI.
“AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will change the future of technology, industry and society…
SonChairman and CEO, SoftBank Group
The announcement boosts SoftBank’s aggressive AI Investment push. This comes after the company moved away from blockchain and introduced an AI-enhanced approach in the recent space.
Key Industry Partners Join SoftBank’s AI Development
SoftBank will form a joint venture with Schneider Electric at the Port of Dunkirk. The facility will have two facilities. SoftBank will use one to create a data center.
Schneider Electric will run another to assemble the power modules. Both companies want to create a channel for AI products in France and Europe.
EDF will support the Bouchain data center by providing low carbon electricity from old industrial assets. As demonstrations of AI’s power consumption continue to rise, access to clean energy will become a huge opportunity. This is especially true for A white man data center markets.
SoftBank expects the program to create thousands of jobs in engineering, robotics, energy systems, and operations. The company will also establish research partnerships with local universities and educational institutions.
I am AI revenue has reached $242 billion in Q1 2026 only, in Europe Building an AI infrastructure it is moving fast. France is gearing up to become the continent’s computing powerhouse.
A note SoftBank Bets Big on AI: €75 Billion to Build Massive French Data Hub appeared for the first time BeInCrypto.
