SoftBank Group announced plans to invest 45 billion euros ($53 billion) over the next five years to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, marking its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date [1]. This commitment is part of a broader 75-billion-euro ($87 billion) program aimed at rolling out 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France, with the initial phase involving the construction of 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the northern Hauts-de-France region, including Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain, by 2031 [1].
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son confirmed the 75 billion euro investment during a press briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron, and indicated that the total investment could reach as high as $750 billion when considering the full system [1]. Son emphasized the strategic importance of the investment, stating, "We are doing that in the U.S. already, we are expanding a lot in the U.S., so we have the momentum, which we can make France the center of Europe, and Europe needs this kind of AI technology. There's no choice. U.S. is going fast, China is going fast, Europe, Japan, Asia have to also go fast, not to be left out" [1].
SoftBank will partner with French engineering company Schneider Electric to develop a large-scale industrial production cluster in Dunkirk as part of the buildout [1]. The company is aggregating project financing for the deal and has hyperscalers as customers [1].
SoftBank's shares rose 14% on Monday and have gained more than 70% in 2026 so far, driven by expectations that its investments in AI infrastructure will yield significant returns [1]. The company's performance is closely linked to the AI boom, with major stakes in Arm Holdings and OpenAI. SoftBank has invested over $30 billion in OpenAI, with investment gains totaling $45 billion in the year ended March [1].
Europe's high energy costs, exacerbated by the U.S.-Iran war, have posed challenges to its ambitions to become a global AI superpower, making investments in power-hungry data centers particularly sensitive to energy prices [1].
CONCLUSION
SoftBank's massive investment in French AI infrastructure signals a strategic push to position Europe as a key player in the global AI race. The market has responded positively, with SoftBank shares surging on the news, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company's AI-driven growth strategy.