SoftBank Unveils €75 Billion Initiative to Expand Data Centers in France

SoftBank Group has revealed its intention to invest as much as €75 billion (around $87 billion) to enhance data center capacity in France.

This project is set to establish and manage an extra 5 gigawatts of data center capacity. The first phase will concentrate on building facilities in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain, aiming to provide 3.1 gigawatts for the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.

As a prominent advocate and partner of OpenAI, SoftBank emphasized that this investment represents its most significant commitment to AI infrastructure in Europe to date.

French Economic Minister Roland Lescure referred to this announcement as a “showcase of President Emmanuel Macron’s vision for establishing France as a key player in the AI value chain.”

In the United States, increasing pushback against new data center initiatives is fueled by environmental concerns and potential effects on the electrical grid and utility expenses. Nevertheless, SoftBank has already announced plans for a data center in Ohio, bolstered by a new 9.2-gigawatt natural gas facility.