- Japan's Softbank is planning to invest 45 billion euros ($53 billion) over five years to build AI infrastructure in France in the first phase of its push.
- The commitment is part of a 75-billion-euro ($87 billion) program by Softbank to build AI data centers in France
- It marks the Japanese tech giant's largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe.
- Soaring energy prices in Europe have been a barrier in its efforts to compete with the U.S. and China in AI.
The tech giant said the commitment is part of a 75-billion-euro program to roll out 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France.
It comes after Softbank overtook Toyota to become Japan's most valuable company by market cap, according to FactSet data.
Softbank said Saturday that the initial phase of the investment plan involves building 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the northern Hauts-de-France region by 2031, including in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain.
"The commitment marks SoftBank Group's largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe," Softbank said in a
statement. "It is designed to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence by expanding access to high-performance compute capacity in France."
The investment plans are due to be formally announced on Monday.
"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," said Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son. "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."
Softbank said it would partner with French engineering company
Schneider Electric to develop a large-scale industrial production cluster in Dunkirk as part of the buildout. Softbank's shares have risen more than 70% in 2026 so far on expectations its investments in AI infrastructure will reap big rewards.
The Japanese company's fortunes are
closely tied to the AI boom through its stake in Arm Holdings, whose chip designs are used in AI servers and data centers powered by Nvidia systems, and its investments in OpenAI.
Softbank has plowed more than $30 billion into OpenAI, with its investment gains in the company totaling $45 billion in the year ended March.
Europe's high energy costs have become a
major stumbling block in its bid to become a global AI super power, as the U.S. and China dominate the AI boom.
The region is looking to get ahead in the AI arms race by ramping up compute capacity and building out the critical infrastructure needed for the technology. But power-hungry data centers mean investments are
particularly sensitive to the cost of energy, and Europe's prices are surging amid the U.S.-Iran war.
Data center projects are likely to migrate to
parts of Europe with lower power costs, creating winners and losers across the continent, experts say.
– CNBC's George Bextor contributed to this story.<small>Source: CNBC</small>
Business
SoftBank plans 75 billion euros of AI investments in France, as Europe struggles to catch up with U.S. and China
CNBC
June 01, 2026
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