SoftBank invests 75 billion euros in a European country for AI and data centers (spoiler, it's not Italy)

France continues to attract strategic investments in the field of artificial intelligence. The Japanese group SoftBank has announced a plan that could reach 75 billion euros aimed at developing AI infrastructures in the country, in what is described as one of the most significant European operations in the sector.

The initiative notably involves the construction of two large data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence workloads. According to SoftBank's founder, Masayoshi Son, up to 45 billion euros will be allocated for the construction of the facilities planned in Le Bosquel and Dunkirk. The operational start is scheduled respectively for 2028 and 2031.

Once completed, the two plants are expected to offer a total capacity of 3.1 gigawatts, a figure that highlights the scale of the project and the increasing energy demand from next-generation AI infrastructures.

SoftBank will also collaborate with Schneider Electric, a French company specialized in energy management and electrical infrastructure technologies. According to Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric, France is expected to close the year with about 1.5 gigawatts of installed capacity in data centers. Thus, the arrival of SoftBank's new investments would represent a significant scale-up for the national sector.

Blum explained that the plan includes an initial phase of about 3 gigawatts, followed by further expansion that could bring total capacity up to 5 gigawatts. These numbers reflect the intention to create an infrastructure capable of supporting the development of increasingly complex AI models and attracting international operators.

Masayoshi Son indicated the energy availability of France as one of the key factors in the decision. The country has a substantial electric production capacity, largely supported by nuclear energy, and maintains a position as a net energy exporter to other European markets.

According to French press reports, the decision also came after President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Tokyo last April. The investment fits into a broader French plan aimed at strengthening its position in the field of artificial intelligence and competing with the United States and China for attracting capital, infrastructures, and skills.

The announcement confirms SoftBank's increasingly central role in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. Through the Vision Fund, the Japanese group has increased its exposure in the sector in recent months, investing around 34.6 billion dollars in OpenAI since September 2024 and acquiring about 11% of the company.

SoftBank is also involved in the Stargate project in the United States, a 500 billion dollar initiative developed together with Oracle and OpenAI aimed at accelerating the establishment of large-scale AI-dedicated infrastructures.