SoftBank to Commit Major Investment in French AI Sector: Reports Suggest €75 Billion Allocation

SoftBank Plans €75 Billion AI Data Center Investment in France

SoftBank Group Corp. is planning to invest as much as €75 billion ($87 billion) to build artificial intelligence data centers in France, according to reports by La Tribune and the Financial Times. The Japanese group will invest the first €45 billion to construct two data centers in Le Bosquel and Dunkirk, which are expected to become operational in 2028 and 2031, respectively.

The investment is part of a broader buildout of AI infrastructure by SoftBank, and it signals that the company is choosing France as a hub in Europe for AI manufacturing and computing power. According to La Tribune, the plan aims to reach more than 5 gigawatts of capacity. Schneider Electric SE has been identified as a partner in the project.

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the idea of the investment during a recent meeting with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son in Tokyo. Son was reportedly impressed by Macron's personal commitment to ensuring France's economic success and began reviewing the matter in earnest. This marks a significant shift in SoftBank's investment strategy, which has previously been concentrated mainly in the US, Japan, and Asia.

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The investment is expected to be formally announced during the Choose France Summit, an annual gathering of industry leaders aimed at attracting investment and promoting France's business appeal.