SoftBank AI Data Centres plans an initial €45 billion investment in France as Europe tries to build more AI computing capacity.
SoftBank AI data centres are set to become one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure stories after the Japanese group committed an initial €45 billion to build large-scale AI capacity in France.
Cointelegraph highlighted the investment in a post on X, saying SoftBank would invest €45 billion in France to build AI data centres over the next five years. The figure matches SoftBank’s own announcement and Reuters’ reporting on the Choose France summit.
SoftBank Group said the first phase will deliver 3.1 gigawatts of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. The wider plan could reach 5 gigawatts and as much as €75 billion in total investment.
The first sites are planned for Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain. SoftBank said the project is part of the 2026 Choose France summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
Reuters reported that the project is SoftBank’s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. Reuters also said EDF and Schneider Electric are expected to play roles in the buildout, including use of energy infrastructure and modular data-centre systems.
The timing is important. AI companies need more computing power to train and run large models. Europe, meanwhile, wants more local capacity so it is less dependent on the US and China.
France has one clear advantage: electricity. Its nuclear-heavy power system gives it a stronger pitch for high-energy data centres than many European peers.
SoftBank chairman Masayoshi Son said France has the industrial base, talent and ambition to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe, according to the company statement.
There is still a hard side to the story. AI data centres need large amounts of power, land, cooling systems and grid access. A €45 billion first phase is a strong signal, but it also sets a high bar for delivery.
The AI Decode has already covered how AI infrastructure jobs are creating new career demand outside traditional tech roles. With SoftBank AI data centres France plan points to the same shift. The AI race is no longer just about models. It is also about power lines, construction, cooling and regional planning.
For now, SoftBank AI data centres give France a larger role in the AI buildout. The next question is whether Europe can turn that capital into working compute fast enough.
