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SoftBank plans €45B first phase for AI data centres in France
SoftBank Group says it will invest €45 billion over five years to build AI data centre capacity in France, starting in Hauts-de-France. The plan, announced ahead of the Choose France conference, positions France as a major destination for European AI infrastructure investment.
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FTS Insights official • The main signal here is not only the size of the investment, but the type of asset being built. France is positioning itself as a host for compute-heavy AI infrastructure by combining energy capacity, industrial partners and political coordination. For the wider European tech ecosystem, this shows how AI competition is increasingly shaped by land, power and execution capacity, not just software and models.
Key Takeaways
- SoftBank is making a long-term infrastructure bet on France, not a limited pilot.
- Hauts-de-France is emerging as the first major zone for the rollout.
- Energy access is a decisive factor in where AI data centres are being located.
- The French plan extends SoftBank's wider global push into AI infrastructure.
Why this matters
- It strengthens France's bid to become a European base for large-scale AI compute.
- The project ties AI growth directly to energy availability and industrial infrastructure.
- Schneider Electric and EDF show how incumbents are embedded in the AI buildout.
- The size and timeline illustrate how capital-intensive AI infrastructure has become in Europe.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
May 30, 2026
SoftBank to build up AI data centres in France with major investment
by Tassilo Hummel
“The fact that the country is a producer and exporter of energy is absolutely decisive for investments in AI infrastructure"
– SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son
Article Summary
SoftBank Group said it will invest €45 billion over the next five years to expand AI infrastructure in France. The first phase is focused on the Hauts-de-France region and is expected to deliver 3.1 GW of capacity.
The plans are due to be formally presented at the annual Choose France business conference. Schneider Electric is set to equip the sites with its modules, while EDF is part of the project through the transfer of one of its former power plant sites for conversion into a data centre.
Three sites, including one in Dunkirk, are expected to come into operation by 2031. SoftBank also said additional sites across France are planned later, bringing the total planned investment in the country to €75 billion.
The announcement adds to SoftBank's broader AI infrastructure push. It also highlights a key factor in European compute strategy: access to reliable energy is becoming central to where large-scale AI capacity gets built.
Key Highlights
- SoftBank plans to invest €45 billion over five years in AI infrastructure in France.
- The first phase targets Hauts-de-France and 3.1 GW of capacity.
- Schneider Electric is a key partner, and EDF is contributing a former power plant site.
- Three sites, including Dunkirk, are expected to come into operation by 2031.
- SoftBank said its broader plans in France could reach €75 billion.
Takeaway
SoftBank's move is a strong signal that Europe's AI race is also an infrastructure race. If the rollout proceeds as planned, France will deepen its role as a strategic compute hub for the continent.
Read the full coverage on Reuters(en)
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