SoftBank pledges €75 billion for AI data centres in France, Europe's largest AI infrastructure bet

SoftBank has committed to investing up to €75 billion ($87.5 billion) in artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, a record sum that founder and CEO Masayoshi Son described as "the largest investment in Europe in infrastructure related to artificial intelligence." The announcement, made in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, comes ahead of the 'Choose France' summit at the Palace of Versailles, where President Emmanuel Macron will court foreign investors.

The scale of the project

The investment will unfold in phases. An initial €45 billion will be deployed by 2031 to build data centres with 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. A second phase could add another 2 gigawatts, bringing total capacity to 5 gigawatts — roughly equivalent to the output of five nuclear power plants or the peak electricity consumption of New York City. The first three data centres will be located at Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain.

This will be the largest investment in Europe in infrastructure related to artificial intelligence: 75 billion euros in total.

Strategic partnership with Schneider Electric

French electrical equipment giant Schneider Electric will be a strategic partner in the project. CEO Olivier Blum confirmed the company will participate in the design and supply of all equipment, with a factory to be built at the channel port of Dunkirk. The Dunkirk site is envisioned as a hub for AI infrastructure and robotics manufacturing, positioned to serve London, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

This is a significant partnership, a major project, the largest ever undertaken in France in this sector.

Blum added that France currently has roughly 1.5 gigawatts of installed data centre capacity at the end of 2025, and the new project would deliver an initial phase of 3.0 gigawatts followed by a second phase that could reach up to 5.0 gigawatts.

Energy and diplomacy drive the decision

Son cited France's status as an energy producer and exporter as "absolutely crucial" for AI infrastructure investments, particularly for data centres that are huge consumers of electricity. France offers abundant, 95% decarbonised electricity, largely from its nuclear fleet. State-owned utility EDF welcomed the announcement, praising "France's capacity to host large-scale digital infrastructure thanks to competitive, sovereign, and low-carbon electricity."

Personal diplomacy also played a key role. Son said his decision was made after meeting Macron during the French president's official visit to Tokyo in April. He was impressed by Macron's "strong personal commitment to ensuring France's economic success," noting that SoftBank's investments had previously been concentrated primarily in the United States, Japan, and Asia.

The fact that the country is an energy producer and exporter is absolutely crucial for infrastructure investments in artificial intelligence, especially for data centres.

Europe's AI catch-up race

The investment is a significant boost for Europe, which has lagged behind the United States and China in building AI infrastructure. While three-digit billion sums flow into US data centres, semiconductors, and AI platforms, Europe has often been slower, with debates over regulation and energy prices deterring investors. The announcement also contrasts with OpenAI's stalled Stargate project in the UK, which was paused over industrial electricity costs more than four times US rates.

SoftBank's French commitment adds to an extraordinary run of AI infrastructure bets. The company is a partner in the $500 billion Stargate initiative with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi's MGX to build data centres across the US, and has separately committed more than $60 billion to OpenAI for a roughly 13% stake. In March, SoftBank announced a large-scale data centre project in Ohio that could channel $500 billion to install 10 gigawatts of capacity.

A test for Europe's industrial future

The project represents more than a single industrial investment. It is a test of Europe's ability to secure a place in the next industrial value chain. As one analysis noted, the continent needs not only good research and smart regulation but also the engine rooms of the AI economy. The previous Choose France summit in May 2025 had set a record with €20 billion in announced projects; SoftBank's pledge alone nearly quadruples that figure.