SoftBank is investing up to €75 billion ($87 billion) in France’s AI infrastructure, marking the largest European investment in artificial intelligence data centers. The Japanese holding company plans to build two facilities in Le Bosquel and Dunkirk, with up to €45 billion allocated specifically for construction.
SoftBank allocates up to 45 billion euros for two new data centers in Le Bosquel and Dunkirk
The projects will deliver a combined capacity of 3.1 gigawatts once both sites reach full operation. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son described the commitment as a strategic move to position France at the center of Europe’s AI ecosystem.
Schneider Electric is partnering with SoftBank on the data centers, providing critical power and cooling systems for the facilities. The company’s CEO Olivier Blum noted that France currently has about 1.5 gigawatts of installed capacity by late 2025, but the new investments will expand that to an initial phase of 3.0 gigawatts with potential growth toward 5.0 gigawatts.
The first facility is expected to become operational in 2028, followed by the second site in 2031. Both locations will support large-scale AI workloads and hyperscale computing demands across Europe.
SoftBank’s investment comes as global demand for AI infrastructure accelerates. The company aims to leverage France’s power-generation capacity and status as a net energy exporter to sustain long-term operations.
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