SoftBank Aims to Invest €75 Billion in French Data Center Expansion

SoftBank Group announced today its plans to invest up to €75 billion (around $87 billion) to boost data center capacity in France.

The goal is to create and operate up to 5 gigawatts of fresh data center capacity. The first phase will focus on building facilities in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain, aiming to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity for the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.

SoftBank, a stakeholder in and user of OpenAI, noted that this investment will be its largest in AI infrastructure across Europe.

French economic minister Roland Lescure referred to the announcement as a “testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of positioning France as a leading hub in the AI value chain.”

In the United States, opposition to data center construction is rising due to environmental issues, along with concerns about the effects of data centers on the electric grid and utility expenses. However, SoftBank has previously revealed plans to construct a data center in Ohio, which will be powered by a new 9.2 gigawatt natural gas facility.