SoftBank Group has announced a significant investment plan to develop and operate 5 GW of AI data centre capacity in France, with a total investment of up to €75 billion.
The initial phase involves a €45 billion investment to establish 3.1 GW of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region, disclosed during the 2026 Choose France summit.
“AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society,” Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group, said in a statement. “SoftBank is proud to make this major commitment to France. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.”
This initiative represents SoftBank Group’s largest investment in AI infrastructure in Europe, designed to facilitate the rapid expansion of AI by increasing access to advanced computing resources in France.
“[The investment] reflects our country’s substantial assets: fast access to the most reliable electrical grid in Europe… By partnering with leading French companies EDF on the Bouchain data center and Schneider Electric for a robotised plant, SoftBank displays a long-term commitment to building the future of an industry-centric AI in France,” Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economy, Finance, & Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty, added.
The first phase will focus on achieving 3.1 GW of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, with planned data centres located in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain.
“This project marks a significant milestone in Dunkirk’s strategy to become a leading hub for the digital economy. It comes alongside an ongoing competitive tender process for a state-of-the-art data centre at the Port of Dunkirk’s Western Harbour,” Maurice Georges, CEO of the Port of Dunkirk and Patrice Vergriete, Chairman of the Dunkirk Urban Council and Mayor of Dunkirk, said.
Moreover, SoftBank Group intends to identify further sites across France, bolstering the nation’s position as a key European center for cutting-edge digital infrastructure. Collaborating with SB Energy and other strategic partners, SoftBank Group will spearhead these projects.
According to the company, these AI data centres will meet the growing demand for high-performance computing across a wide range of stakeholders, including AI companies, cloud service providers, businesses, public institutions, and research organisations.
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