The Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group has unveiled plans for a massive €45 billion investment over the coming five years to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure across France, according to founder Masayoshi Son in a weekend interview with La Tribune Dimanche.
Son described this commitment as Europe’s largest AI infrastructure investment to date, focusing on the northern Hauts-de-France region. The company’s total investment commitment in France is expected to reach €75 billion, Son revealed.
Officials plan to formally reveal these investment details on Monday during the annual Choose France business conference.
La Tribune Dimanche reported that two data center locations at Le Bosquel and Dunkirk are scheduled to begin operations in 2028 and 2031 respectively, delivering a combined computing capacity exceeding 5 gigawatts.
When questioned about selecting France for this venture, Son explained, “The fact that the country is a producer and exporter of energy is absolutely decisive for investments in AI infrastructure.”
This French investment represents part of SoftBank’s worldwide AI infrastructure expansion efforts. The company has already committed more than $30 billion to OpenAI, securing approximately an 11% ownership stake.
France has utilized the Choose France summit as a platform to attract international investors since President Emmanuel Macron established the event in 2018.
