SBG to build up to $95 billion data centers in France

2026-05-30

SoftBank Group plans up to $95 billion data center in France

To develop its first AI hub in Europe

SoftBank Group Corp. (SBG) will invest up to 14 trillion yen in France to build data centers. Total capacity is expected to reach 5 gigawatts, making it the largest project of its kind in Europe. The aim is to secure computing resources for artificial intelligence (AI) not only in the U.S. but also in Europe.

SBG is also planning to build a data center project worth 80 trillion yen in Ohio. As computing resources are concentrated in the U.S., the company is moving quickly to establish a base in Europe as well, diversifying the risk of business concentration.

To be announced at French government event

Masayoshi Son, chairman and president, will announce the investment plan on site to coincide with Choose France, a French government event to promote investment in France to be held on June 1. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Japan from late March to early April, had urged SBG to invest, according to the background to the plan.

The new data centers will be SBG's first AI hub in Europe. In the first phase, the company will invest 45 billion euros (about 8.4 trillion yen) over the next five years and build facilities totaling more than 3 gigawatts in Dunkirk and Bouskell in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The plan also envisages supplying computing resources not only within France but also to neighboring countries.

The final investment amount is expected to reach 75 billion euros, or about 14 trillion yen. SBG will serve as the coordinator of the project, and its own burden is expected to be limited to part of the total. Servers and AI chips will be provided by customers such as cloud operators. Project finance will also be used to raise funds.

Supply chain to be built in France

According to German research company Statista, the number of data centers in the U.S. is far ahead at more than 4,000. Britain and Germany each have more than 500, while France has just over 300. Europe is lagging behind the U.S. and is rushing to build out its bases.

SBG is also moving ahead with development of the related supply chain. In partnership with French electrical equipment giant Schneider Electric, it plans to build a new factory for power equipment for data centers at the port of Dunkirk in northern France. By securing equipment in-house as well, it aims to speed up construction.

Securing power is a challenge for data centers, but France is making greater use of nuclear power plants, making it easier to provide a stable electricity supply. Construction costs are also said to be lower than in the U.S.

In its AI national strategy unveiled in February 2025, the French government set out a policy of channeling more than 100 billion euros in private and public investment into AI over several years. It is also strengthening ties with India and countries in the Global South, aiming for a third pole for AI distinct from the U.S. and China.

Major U.S. technology companies also see promise in France. Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest more than 15 billion euros in AI infrastructure and other areas in 2026-28. Microsoft also announced a 4 billion euro investment plan related to AI in 2024.

SBG is using France as a foothold to advance the building of AI infrastructure in Europe. However, debt is rising as the company has announced a series of massive AI-related investments. If demand does not grow as expected, there is also a risk that it will be difficult to recoup the investment.

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