SoftBank plans €75bn, 5GW AI data center buildout in France

SoftBank announced plans to build up to 5GW of AI-focused data center capacity in France, with a total investment of up to €75 billion ($87.5bn). The first phase, requiring an initial €45bn ($52.5bn) commitment, targets 3.1GW of operational capacity by 2031 in the Hauts-de-France region. Specific sites include Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain. The move positions France as a key battleground for AI infrastructure in Europe, competing with projects from Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son framed the investment as a strategic necessity: "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." France was chosen for its industrial capabilities, talent base, and national ambition. The buildout will require massive energy resources—5GW is roughly the output of five nuclear reactors—and is expected to accelerate France's push into sovereign AI cloud capacity, supporting both domestic startups and European enterprise adoption.