SoftBank plans €45 billion AI data center investment in France
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
SoftBank Group, a Japanese conglomerate, has committed to investing €45 billion ($53 billion) over five years to build artificial intelligence data centers in France's Hauts-de-France region. This investment is the largest of its kind in Europe to date, with three sites expected to begin operations by 2031 and a total capacity of 3.1 gigawatts. The project involves partnerships with Schneider Electric and EDF, and is part of SoftBank's broader AI infrastructure push, which includes a significant investment in OpenAI.
💡 Why It Matters
- · France's status as an energy producer and exporter has made it an attractive location for data center investment, according to SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son.
- · This investment highlights the country's growing importance in the global AI landscape, and may pave the way for further foreign investment in the sector.